Alicia Jones 4: Enigma (11 page)

“Explain,” I said rather weakly.

Al replied, “Everything that exists here in the galaxy has a
different radiation signature in subspace.  So far I’ve learned enough to
type stars and identify other solar bodies in addition to several different
ships.  There are even minor variations for type that enable me to quickly
locate a specific ship, like our command ship for instance.  By the way,
based on the data I’ve gathered there are twenty-seven Bug worlds in the arm
next to us, and an additional sixty-one in their origin arm.  Their
combined ship totals are just over two hundred and sixty-four million ships.

“Back to the point, once a ship moves into subspace, it’s
radiation signature changes significantly, it is no longer an echo or extension
from normal space, but actually there.  The Drenil ships are easily
identifiable, and they only have four hundred and thirty-one ships currently
spread out through their arm of the galaxy.  Their signature is not
constant, but is instead changing.  I believe that they are modulating
their shields slightly to communicate.

“I have no idea what they’re saying, but it seems very
likely they are talking that way.  We may never know considering the lack
of a common frame of reference.  So far I have been unable to decipher or
understand anything they are saying.”

It was probably something about those pesky humans invading
their space.

“See if you can correlate anything to what the ships are
doing.  I won’t hold my breath though, bring up the data?”

So much for being bored, I leaned back in my chair and
studied the data in my overlay with the same excitement most kids show on Christmas
morning.  I really was weird sometimes…

It was quite a few hours later, and I still had no idea what
they were saying, but there was a discrepancy that ticked the back of my
mind.  I decided to talk it through with Al, use him as a soundboard, and
see what came of it.

“Al, these readings don’t look quite right.  It’s
almost like a shadow, or two objects in the same place which should be
impossible.  Have you got a scan of a Drenil ship in normal space?”

Al replied, “No.  The Drenil don’t drop out very often,
and not since I’ve been recording data.”

I tapped my lip thoughtfully.

“Al, when we drop a ship out into normal space, or the
Drenil do, what happens?  I mean specifically, they’d lose their scanning
and communication ability through subspace, wouldn’t they?  So would we,
should we choose to do something similar.”

Al replied, “Affirmative.”

“That seems terribly inefficient, and annoying to be blinded
in normal space.  It could be why the Drenil are mostly always in that
other space, but let’s assume that’s not the answer.  Maybe they just like
to keep hidden.

“Okay, what if they aren’t blinded in normal space. 
Suppose we build a device inside the ship, a small sphere, and point very small
emitters inward, and create a spherical shield.  In essence, we’d be
moving that space inside the sphere into subspace, yet with the shield in place
it wouldn’t hurt the ship that surrounds it, or even effect the ship at
all. 

“If we did that, then it wouldn’t matter where the ship was,
subspace or not, we could read subspace through the internal sphere which will
always be in subspace, as well as use it to communicate.  I’m wondering if
that’s what the Drenil do.  It might explain what the shadow we’re seeing
is, or what gives the scan data the appearance of two things being in one
place.”

Al replied, “That seems likely, but we’d have to try it with
two different ships to find out.  I’ll also have to work out a program to
translate the inverted data.”

Right, because whatever the sphere read internally would be
from the opposite direction in subspace.

It was a simple design, double shielded for containment, if
it ever failed outside of a nominal shut down the ship would be toast.  I
also included a full array of highly sensitive sensors that surrounded the
globe to read the radiation.  It would be more accurate than pointing the
external sensors inward through the ship, with all the other devices and power
systems in the way.  It was small enough, just a yard in diameter, to
build a handful at a time, more than that really, so I submitted it to the
fabricator in the lab ship, and then stood up and stretched. 

It was way past lunchtime, and I really needed to get
something to eat before Jason showed up so I walked over to the break room.

Jason Matthews was twenty-nine, had two PhDs, and was on the
cutting edge of robotics.  He had blond hair, gray eyes, and looked about
four years younger than he was.  He also had a dog robot with him,
something that had been around for a while, but his was uncannily hard to
detect as not being alive.

I might not have noticed it was a robot at all, if I hadn’t
been really paying attention or suspected it wasn’t in the first place.

“Please, take a seat, and tell me about what you’re doing
and trying to accomplish.”

Jason sat and seemed to gather his thoughts, I smiled when
he absently petted his dog.

“Robotics has been around decades of course.  Every
house has automation now to a certain extent, vacuuming, food ordering, washing
clothes, and even cleaning.  My goal is to build a robot that emulates
animals, and even humans, more accurately.  Right now the robots just get
things done, you don’t even notice them.

“Yet, they’re capable of so much more.  A live in maid,
or nanny, a cook, butler, chauffer, and massage therapist all rolled into
one.  The technology has reached a point we can create realistic skin, and
even facial movements.”

I nodded in agreement but had objections, “Yes, but there
are studies that show humans find humanoid robots creepy, the more realistic
they are, the more people feel a negative reaction.  Something to do with
the lack of soul in the eyes I believe.  No matter how realistic you can
make the skin feel, or the facial movements appear.  That’s why home
automation robotics are so impersonal.”

I decided not to mention all the horror sci-fi stories about
androids that start this way, but then I shouldn’t judge, Al hasn’t tried to
take over the world either.  Yet.

He nodded, “That is a valid concern, but believe it or not
it’s less the eyes, and more the way the past attempts at humanoid robots
moved, either their lack of facial expression or incorrect facial expression,
blinking, and other subtle cues which alarmed the hind brain in a human. 
Animals move in a certain way, and if those ways are not seen it sets off our
instincts that something is wrong.  Hence the creepy feeling.”

Hence?  Who uses that word?

“Well I have to admit, your dog isn’t alarming at all, and
he seems quite real, alive even, but a human shape is different, isn’t it?”

Jason nodded, “It is the most challenging shape for human
acceptance.  Which is the ultimate goal of my research.”

I shrugged, “To what end?  Why do we need robots, or
should I say androids, when other shapes get the job done just fine?  My
A.I. can drive my car just fine through the interface, and he doesn’t take up
seating room.”

He shrugged, “But can a med doc give a child a hug after
taking care of his or her skinned knee?  What can match a massage from a
warm human hand?  Humanoid robots would also be more versatile than
robotics designed for a specific job.  I understand it will create some
waves and take time to catch on when I’m successful, but that could be said for
any number of new technologies.”

Even if he failed, I supposed it wouldn’t hurt my bottom
line all that much, but I also didn’t want to throw money away.  Still,
the dog was amazingly realistic.  If nothing else, that would be an avenue
to recoup losses, robotic pets.

“How far along are you?”

He smiled a little ironically, “Close enough to be creepy,
I’m still working on algorithms to mimic the thirty facial muscles, including
micro-expressions and subtle things like breathing, which is one of the big tip
offs.  Just normal expression, even if accurate, isn’t good enough to fool
human instincts.  The body is pretty darn close already.  The actual
physical tech is already good enough.”

“Alright, you’re pretty convincing, and we can give it a
shot.  I’m forwarding a contract to you for review.  Let me know what
you decide, it’s not a normal grant but more in the way of a job offer. 
There is also possibly something we have here that will help, although I can’t
tell you about it until you agree, and sign non-disclosure forms.”

I thought that maybe the new A.I. matrix Shelly made along
with a quantum computer could probably help with his issues.

He nodded slowly, “Thanks for contacting me, I’ll read this
over and let you know in a day or two?”

I replied, “That’s fine.”

I was thoughtful as he walked out.  He was right about
one thing, if he pulled it off it would be controversial to say the
least. 

It was late in the evening, and Kristi, Joe, and I were
watching television when Al interrupted with more news.

Al said, “The council bought the platforms, and also passed
on that you shouldn’t build any military technology with your fabricators any
longer, save for experimental.  I believe they don’t want you to have
stock, and they’ll make it when they order it.”

I wasn’t sure who was ultimately behind pulling my teeth,
but it was a polite fiction.  I still had access, just not in
ownership.  After all, I needed that access to continue to support the
fleet and any upgrades, so in reality I could seize and control platforms at
will, not that I ever would.  Al broke me out of my thoughts when he
continued.

“The lab ship and command ship are now capable of traversing
subspace, though the latter is untested as it would have been seen.  I’ve
also installed the new subspace sensor and communicator, should I proceed with
testing?”

I thought about it.  A part of me wanted to be there,
but honestly it wouldn’t be all that exciting, and if the ship blew up it was
better not to be there.  That was a rather obvious thought, but it didn’t make
it less true.

“Go ahead, anything else?”

Al said, “Yes, the treaty worlds have voted for eradication
of the bugs.”

I closed my eyes and sighed.  I really needed to teach
Al priorities, that should have been the first thing he’d said.

I subvocalized, “I see, and when will this happen?”

Al said, “Unknown, I believe they bought the platforms at
this time for defense of our worlds, and plan to send most of the fleet.”

“Proof?”

Al replied, “Nothing direct.  Conjecture based on
increased fleet activity and delivery of food supplies, along with deployment
of some platforms to both our colony and the Knomen world, most likely to
relieve ships currently there.”

“Anything else?”

Al was silent for a moment, “You may be interested to know
fifteen of the thirty-nine treaty worlds, including Omara, Leira, Tressia, and
the Knomen colonies declared that this is an aggression, and not mutual
defense.  They refused to take part in the eradication even if they won’t
actively oppose it.  Responses of the other worlds are pending.”

For some reason that cheered me up, although Earth not being
a part of that declaration saddened me.  I wondered why, they weren’t a
part of it that is.  Politics no doubt.

Al continued with his report, “We also located in the last
few weeks, several more primitive humanoid races toward the rim through the
stealth sensor net.  As for what
we
know, there are four more space
age but pre-FTL races for us to find, and several thousand worlds that will
support humanoid life.”

“Several thousand?  How did you determine that?”

Al replied, “Planetary signatures in subspace indicate
oxygen rich worlds in the goldilocks zone, I can’t tell how many of them
actually have humanoid life, only the ones that have ships in space around
their solar system.”

Based on what he’d just said, it appeared the stealth sensor
net would still have its uses.  I felt a little bad and dishonest not
updating anyone on the latest breakthroughs.  On the other hand, the Earth
had gained a lot of power very quickly, and this latest invention would help
them carry out their mission of so called eradication with one ship and very
little time, something I wasn’t prepared to allow. 

So called eradication, because in truth it’s genocide.

I did wonder however, just how the council and the
leadership of Earth would take me keeping these secrets if they found out I had
this technology.  Most likely with mistrust and suspicion, but even so, I
wasn’t prepared to change my mind anytime soon.

I wasn’t giving serious thoughts to abandoning Earth or
anything like that, but I considered maybe going to visit other worlds for a
while.  I had some in mind, the ones that refused to commit to the
horrific plan for instance.  I’d only been to Tressia and Leira, that left
thirteen worlds to visit, two of which I was already a little familiar with the
species.  Namely the Knomen colonies, and the Omara.

Either way, any new breakthroughs made or things I focused
on for the next while wouldn’t be in regards to space, or have military
applications.  Not until I saw how this all shook out.  I’d be
keeping my latest invention to myself for now, I knew I could trust Kristi, and
Al.  No one else knew.

I was about to ask Kristi and Joe if they wanted to do a
tour of worlds, when Al interjected again.

“You have a call from Bill Samson.”

“Answer it,” I said as I stood and walked out of the room
for privacy.

“Hello?”

“Hey Alicia, it’s Bill,” he drawled, I could hear his smile
in his voice.

I couldn’t help the smile that lit my face, or the
accompanying surge of guilt, “What do I owe the pleasure?  Everything okay
down there with my family?”

Bill replied, “Everything is fine, just got to thinking that
it might be fun to get together for dinner and catch up, maybe talk about old
times.”

“Tomorrow night?  Dinner?” I asked.

Billy replied, “Sounds good, how about Mexican?”

 Hmm, that sounded good.

“Mia’s Tex Mex at seven?”

I heard the smile in his voice as he replied, “Sounds like a
plan.  See you then Alicia.”

We said our goodbyes and hung up. 

Well, maybe my escape to other worlds would have to wait a
bit.  I had a date…  Despite the guilt, I was going to go.

Besides, it wasn’t over yet, there was still time for them
to come to their senses.  They’d found five of eighty-eight Bug worlds so
far, it would take a long time for them to find the rest, especially in the arm
of the galaxy we hadn’t even started to seed with sensors yet, and I sure as
hell wasn’t sharing what I knew.

I’d always believed we had to keep pushing, I was sure there
was more to come, always more to learn, and we might one day need that to meet
our enemies, especially the ones we don’t see coming.  I firmly believed
there was no pinnacle of technology. 

On the other side of the coin, I worried that growing too
quickly was a danger in itself.  I’d saved Earth from the Knomen, but had
I doomed them to self-destruction and corruption?  Maybe I was overreacting,
but was it possible to overreact to genocide?

Did I have the right to withhold the science because of my
own personal worries about morality?  Absolutely, it was my
discovery.  I just needed to be wary about trying to impress that morality
on everyone else, or becoming corrupted myself.  Still, there were plenty
of other mysteries to plumb, I was sure I’d find something.

Only time would tell how it all works out.