AMP The Core (8 page)

As I awaited an answer, I was surprised by one of the bots standing behind me. I had a moment of panic as it grabbed hold of my shoulder and shoved a needle into a port on the side of the suit. I felt a pinch as the needle entered my skin; a sample of my blood had been drawn. The bot then turned and exited through the hatch behind me.

The Defender computer chugged away at diagrams and lists of materials for several minutes. The rear door then closed, and the ship lifted into the air. For thirty seconds, she moved over the fields of downed ships, scanning for the resources that would be needed by the replicators.

When we landed back in the field by the Swift, the holo-display once again chimed as it displayed "Design Complete."

The computer spoke. "The modifications to the Swift will take three days, four hours, fifty-five minutes to complete."

I again smiled. "Sarah, begin the full upgrade of the Swift. All systems!"

The bots immediately got to work. The Defender lifted off repeatedly to fly several bots to a debris field for the extraction of the needed raw materials. On one of the return trips, I was again surprised by a bot standing behind me. This time, however, the needle that was jabbed through the port in my side contained the DNA bio-serum. The shot was painful, but over in a few short seconds.

As the activity outside picked up, I took the time to study what I could of Earth’s history. I was quickly becoming the foremost authority on the origins of Man. Our history was interesting, if not sorted.

I was at first shocked at the frequency and the magnitude of the thousands of battles and wars that had been fought by Man against Man. As the reading and watching of videos continued, I then began to realize that ancient Man was not much different than modern Man. There were always those who sought power and wealth, even if at the demise of others.

Man was certainly flawed, but I quickly decided that I would take the average man over the average alien of any of the other species I had come to know. I was sure that some would call me a bigot. I preferred the term wise.

Sarah Rogers’s history was fascinating on its own. She had gone from farm girl to Defender pilot to prisoner of war on an alien vessel. After a daring escape, she had taken control of the alien ship and then returned to an embattled Earth, where she brought back peace and prosperity. Humans were soon dominating the battlefields of space and growing exponentially in power. The reward for Man’s achievements was to be transferred away, against his will, to the galaxy that we now inhabited.

Sarah Rogers, along with one other Human and several billion Human clones, were all that had remained. Sarah speculated in her logs that the changes in her DNA were the reason she had been left behind. After seeing to it that Earth, and all the clones that had been created in birthing centers, were safe and secure in their own realm, Sarah Rogers had taken to the stars to try to find her people. Upon her death from old age, the search had ended. In the end, Sarah had been successful in her quest when Frig had stumbled upon her signal.

As I continued to watch Man’s history unfold, I took the occasional break to continue my studies of the BGS and the other technologies that were newfound to me. The BGS had a sleep mode that would allow me to continue learning while I slept. I continued to be astounded by the technologies that Man had created more than a thousand years before, any one of which might have turned the fate of Grids 2, 3, and 5.

After three days, four hours, and fifty-five minutes, the bots came to a stop. The upgrades to the Swift were complete. As I stood from the chair on the Defender, I realized that I had been sitting in the same spot for that entire time. I had not eaten, nor had I risen for any other reason. The BGS suit, and the time savings it offered by me not having to partake in such tasks each and every day, were remarkable.

Instead of walking out and around to the Swift, I took a step towards her and then turned on the active skin. I floated through the side of the Defender and then again through the starboard side of the Swift. When the skin was deactivated, I dropped my legs gently to catch myself as the gravity of Molov took over. I was standing on the cargo deck of the Swift with a smile again on my face.

As I turned towards the pilot’s console, the smile dropped from my face. A comm signal had been coming in from the Grid. As I began to sit in the pilot’s chair, I remembered that my battle suit and helmet were still on the Defender. I returned and retrieved them only to find that the comm symbol in my helmet display was also flashing from a prior signal. As a last-minute thought, I ordered the bots to load one of the replicators into the cargo hold of the Swift; two bots would also be retained.

Back in the Swift, I pressed the comm button on the console. "This is Grange. Who’s out there?"

The comm did not respond.

I spoke to the computer. "Sarah, is there a problem with my comm?"

The computer replied, "Molov has a molten cesium core. It was one of the reasons it was selected as my final destination. There would be enough fuel to keep the reactor running for millions of years if needed. As a consequence of that molten, high-energy core, frequencies such as what your comm uses are restricted in their ability to travel more than a few tens of kilometers. A signal was detected eighteen minutes and twelve seconds ago. A separate signal twenty-four hours before that."

As the bots finished strapping down the replicator, I entered the nav route to Tresha into the computer and quickly lifted off. The acceleration towards my target was rapid and linear. I soon found myself traveling far faster than I had ever traveled before. The speed indicator had surpassed more than one hundred thousand times the speed of light.

At the halfway point of the journey, the BHDs reversed and the Swift began to decelerate. I was spending my time learning about the hand weapons that came with the BGS.

I spoke to the computer. "So, I just aim and think fire?"

The computer replied, "The thought interface is only available with the neural comm implant. Manual controls are on the glove or can be spoken through the helmet audio interface."

I looked at the diagrams on the holo-display. "So, can I get one of these comm implants?"

The computer changed diagrams. "The replicators are capable of constructing the neural comm implant, excluding the quantum entanglement circuits."

I replied, "The quantum what?"

The computer again switched diagrams. "Quantum entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more particles can be synchronized. The synchronized states remain available even when the particles are separated by great distances. If the quantum pairs are grouped in a matrix configuration, a comm link can be established between the pairs that is instantaneous at any distance. Quantum entanglement is not available from the replicators. A lab configuration with multiple pieces of equipment is required."

I replied, "OK, have the replicator create a neural implant for me without the quantum stuff. I can at least take advantage of the thought interface. When we get to the Orienta, we can see about constructing a lab."

As I approached the Tresha system, my attention was glued to the countdown timer on my holo-display. The twenty-six minutes remaining seemed like an eternity. I was startled when one of the bots placed its clawed hand on my shoulder as it held out the neural implant chip.

I turned back to the computer. "How long does the neural implant surgery take?"

The computer replied, "The surgery requires approximately five minutes for opening the incision, insertion and alignment of the chip, and closing the incision. Healing time with the BGS suit applied is approximately four hours."

I nodded. "Five minutes? That’s it? Let’s get it done, then. I have twenty minutes to kill."

The displays on the computer changed to show diagrams of the implant. "The implant requires a minimum of twenty-four hours for the initial bonding with the central nervous system. After the bonding is complete, the training of the circuit may begin."

I replied, "Wait! Training? Why can’t I get anything that works right out of the box!"

The computer began to respond, to which I turned off the audio.

I looked over the holo-display with a scowl on my face. "OK, computer, begin the implant operation."

The bot immediately grabbed my neck and spun me around to the side. A pain medication was administered through the BGS, after which I had a happy, goofy grin on my face. The operation was over almost before it had begun. As the bot released me, a second injection was administered by the BGS, which brought me back to normal.

I commented as I felt the small lump in my neck and looked at the bot, "You guys don’t mess around, do you! I’m surprised you didn’t just ram that thing up my... never mind. Computer, let me know when the neural circuit is ready for training."

The computer responded, "The circuit will let you know when it is active."

I decelerated into the Tresha system and raised the Orienta on the comm. I then made a straight line to the planet’s surface and to the building that housed Ashley, Frig, and Dr. Touchstone. I touched down, disabled the active skin, and stepped out of the Swift’s rear hatch. As I began to walk to the door of the building, I turned, and with a voice command the hatch of the Swift lifted and closed. With a second voice command, the ship disappeared from sight as the sodium skin activated. I continued to walk to the door with a smile on my face.

I got off an elevator on the fourth floor and proceeded to the room location that the Gonta had given me. As I neared the doorway, I could hear Frig’s voice. I stopped and thought I might show off a bit of my new tech. I took a step towards the outer wall of the room, and with a voice command the skin on my BGS activated. I floated through the wall as if nothing was there.

Frig and Dr. Touchstone were seated at a table while Ashley stood, pacing about the room. I readied my feet, and with a new command the BGS suit’s skin deactivated, allowing me to drop gently to the floor.

I spoke as the others recoiled in shock. "Hello, fellow Humans! How fantastic it is to be Human, don’t you think?"

I removed my helmet as Ashley came over for a prolonged hug and a kiss. "When the Swift went down, we thought you had been killed. Why didn’t you answer our hails?"

I shook my head. "The Swift was at the bottom of a frozen lake. I had to hike for days before I found what I hope is the solution to all of our problems!"

I began to relay the story of the crashing of the Swift, my journey to the mystery signal, and the Defender. "I have it all, a history of our origins. What is happening here? Have the Durians been spotted yet?"

Ashley replied, "The Colossuns landed on Targ. The Duke has landed at least ten thousand troop carriers, and the Targ are filing onto them. The Targ have joined the Colossuns. The Durians arrived at Targ yesterday, along with the Dakar and the Prassi. Bulgar ships were seen arriving this morning. The fleet is massive, Don, unlike anything we have ever had to face."

I whispered a few voice commands into the helmet that I held in my hand. "Frig, I’m sending through the data I collected from the Defender ship. It is huge and will take a while to transfer. Analyze the Swift’s new systems to see where we can best make use of them in our fight."

Frig replied, "Sir, I am receiving conflicting login attempts between the Swift and our network. Has someone tampered with the Swift’s computer?"

I laughed. "Tampered is not the right word. More like completely rebuilt. Just figure out how to get us connected. You are going to love some of these enhancements!"

I spoke. "So, what preparations have we been able to make concerning the Durians?"

Frig replied, "The Gonta decided to move our people down to the surface of Tresha. We have constructed two wormhole generators, but are now out of available power sources for enabling any more. I do not fault the Gonta for making the switch. It would be the logical thing for any species to do."

I shook my head. "Have you had a chance to look over the planet-side defenses? What kind of a fight can we put up from down here?"

Frig sighed. "Sir, we have been making every effort to update the weapons and shields on Tresha. The Gonta have been extremely cooperative. However, I believe those defenses would eventually fall to any continued bombardment from orbit. Without a fleet to disrupt those assaults, it would be a relentless stream of attacks, some of which would inevitably make it through. The fall of Tresha would only be a matter of time should the Gonta leave with their Carions."

I replied, "OK, well, start looking over the info I am sending. I don’t know what we can do with it given the time we have."

Frig spoke. "Sir, fifteen hundred Colossun warships just dropped through light speed and are entering the Tresha system. The Gonta fleet is going out to meet them."

I shook my head. "I thought we had at least another day. Are the other ships still at the Targ system?"

Frig replied, "The latest scans show they began their departure for this system two hours ago. We should have another full day at the least. Wait, we have more ships dropping in... it would appear, Sir, that more than four thousand Bulgar ships are joining the fight."

I looked over the data on Frig’s console as it became available. The attacking fleet was now equal in size to what the Gontas had to offer in defense. "Wait. Why are the Colossuns just sitting there? And the Gonta—they are not taking defensive positions against the Bulgar. Frig, tell me they are not all joining forces!"

Frig replied, "The Gonta have had a number of private meetings of late, Sir. Changing sides is not out of the question, although, the Gonta have given no indication of desiring such a move."

I watched on the console as the Bulgar ships moved in and among the Gonta fleet. They were joining forces!

The console then flashed as a new ship dropped through light speed. It was humongous, a warship that was far larger than any I had seen. The great ship was of a Colossun design and immediately proceeded to fire upon the combined Gonta and Bulgar fleet.

I spoke. "OK, now I’m confused. I thought you said the Bulgar had joined up with the Duke at Targ. What are we missing here, Frig?"

Frig typed away on his console for several seconds before replying. "I consulted with command on the Orienta, Sir. It seems the Bulgar are made up of two separate factions that have been at war with each other for centuries. We may see some of that fight playing out here now."

As we watched, another five thousand Colossun ships joined the fray. I was squirming in my chair as I observed the great fighting fleets matching guns and shields. The early signs told of a slight edge to the Gontas and friendly Bulgar. The Bulgar ships were fast and maneuverable, with highly effective weapons. Their shields, however, were inferior. After the first hour of battle, each side had lost nearly 10 percent of their ships.

Frig interrupted, "Five thousand Durian and three thousand Dakar ships just uncloaked around the Carions. They are firing!"

We crowded around a second monitor on the console beside where Frig had been sitting. "Here, the Gonta fleet is abandoning the fight with the Colossuns to return to the Carions."

I spoke. "Five thousand Durian ships! Where did they come from? I thought there were two thousand!"

Frig replied, "They must have had a second fleet traveling separate from the other. I am mystified as to how the Prassi and the Dakar followed the Durians without our knowledge. I must have further work to do on the space current disruption filters."

Frig continued, "The Gontas will not be able to withstand such an assault. Those Carions will begin to move when that Gonta fleet proves ineffective."

Ashley spoke. "Look, more Colossuns just dropped in! The numbers are falling away from our favor. And all we can do is sit here and wait for them to attack!"

I put my hand on Ashley’s shoulder. "Gather your things. Frig, you and the doctor grab the Duke and follow me."

We hurried back to the elevator as Frig responded, "Where are we going, Sir?"

I replied, "We are getting on the Swift, that’s where. I think it’s time you saw what she is capable of."

As we walked out into the paver-covered area between the buildings, called the quad, Ashley spoke. "Where is the Swift?"

With a voice command, the active skin turned off, revealing the now-silvery-white ship. The rear hatch slowly opened.

Ashley again spoke. "Hmm. I do like the new color."

I rolled my eyes as I replied with a snide remark. "You women, always worried about a fashion statement."

The group boarded the Swift, and as I sat at the console, I pressed the button to close the hatch. Frig sat in the copilot’s chair and began to look over the new set of controls.

I laughed as the Swift began to lift off. "Here, don’t bother with that. I’ll bring up the holo-display."

Frig jumped back slightly as the air in front of him crackled and began to light up.

"OK, this holo-button will put it in practice mode. Surf around, use the Help, and ask the computer any questions you have about it. It’s a very intuitive system, and after a few minutes I am sure you will have it mastered."

I looked back at Ashley and the doctor. "You can stand or sit, it doesn’t really matter; the inertia of anything in the surrounding space will have no effect on what goes on in here. It will be as if we never left the ground. Although, I would say do not look too intently at the view-screen up here, or it will make you a little queasy."

Touchstone began to look over the now-stationary bots and the replicator machine. "What are these?"

I replied, "Those, Doc, are your new lab. Ask the bots there to build you something, and they will construct whatever you need, if we have the necessary raw materials."

Touchstone looked over the robot and then turned back my way. "Your suit, and this ship—what did you call it? An active skin?"

I nodded. "Yep, isn’t it great! I can walk through walls, Doc! And this ship—it will fly right through anything that is out there! The computer said something about stopping the spin of the electrons making it react differently to all things that are physical or energy based. And the engines on this ship, black hole drives, referred to as BHDs. When you turn them on, this ship will continue to accelerate so long as power is supplied. I peaked out at hundreds of times faster than the Grid on my way over here."