Retribution (19 page)

“That depends” said Mani with a smile “on the intensity of the star and how far you are away. If you were on the sunward side of Polaris, about two days to recharge fully from empty.”

Dave nodded as he pondered the need to change their operating procedures to take advantage of this new tech.

Mani added “Of course we need to test all this once we have her back on line.”

“Sure. Thanks Mani you’ve been most helpful.”

“We aim to please Captain.”

Dave grabbed a cup of coffee from the cafeteria and walked out the facility entrance and stood in the sunlight. Like his ship he needed recharging. All these meetings, in doors, had set his mind revving. He needed to wind down, clear his head and out here in the open space, with the desert in the distance and the hottest sun of the day beating down on him, this was the perfect place.

He exercised his long distance vision by focussing on a bird of prey about eight kilometres away. It was gliding in a circular pattern on the thermals high over the desert looking for a feed. Several sips of his coffee later Dave saw the bird dive. Its dive was so fast that it was soon lost in the desert shimmer. ‘What eyesight! I’d love to be able to do that’ thought Dave. But he qualified that thought ‘not the eating bit.’

He looked for more in the cup but there was none. ‘Oh well.’ He pulled out his communicator and hailed his boss.

“Yes Dave” said Phil.

“Mani says the 20
^th
.”

“Can’t be done sooner?”

“I don’t think so Sir.”

“Oh well thanks for following this up.”

“Do you need me to stay out here?”

“Will it make a difference?”

“To my wife it will.”

Phil laughed. “You know I could keep her real busy here” he taunted.

“It’s true then what they say about you Sir.”

“And what’s that?”

“That you’re a brave man.”

Phil laughed heartily. “You better come back then.”

Chapter 4. Outer Polaris 1605, 10 June

A trigger fired within the parasitic AI on the Arcwright satellite. It assessed and tagged the message from the acting Fleet Admiral bound for Commander Special Operations. The message sender was changed to Lisa McKew and the text substituted, ensuring byte length was maintained.

In two hours’ time Phil Yomoto would be reading “Please advise SITREP, with locations of assets, for directive Zulu 42892166 #43598” rather than “Please confirm that you have aborted and terminated directive Zulu 42892166 #43598.”

Unbeknown to the parasitic AI there was another AI processing nearby aboard the Fleet’s newest ship. Alice Wu was running a full spectrum scan as the Phantom zoomed past the Arcwright satellite and into the Holstrum belt of asteroids that were the last ‘heavenly’ bodies within the Polaris system. She was also conducting a match against the last known scan of the area, which happened to be only a few days ago. That was conducted by the Argonaut. The scanning AI detected the anomaly. It was an emission emanating, neither from the satellite, nor from one of the mining facilities orbiting Sibu, but from out in the asteroid belt.

The alert fired on Alice’s workstation. “Sir I have something” announced Alice to Manuel who was sitting in the Captain’s chair and obviously enjoying himself.

“What is it?” asked Manuel.

“There’s something out in the belt transmitting that shouldn’t be there.”

Manuel got up and came over to Alice’s workstation. She explained the data matching process underway and the data relating to the anomaly.

“Bring it up on the holo” he ordered. Alice sent the details to the holo display and an icon appeared over asteroid A2135. “And it is transmitting how much data?” he asked.

“Just intermittent packets Sir, not a continuous stream. But it’s a powerful transmitter Sir.”

“How powerful?”

“Very…it could easily reach anywhere within Federation space and Alliance space for that matter.”

“What about further?”

“If you mean into rogan space, then possibly.”

“Shit” said Manuel out loud. He looked at the time and knew they would have to turn back now. “OK tag it, send a report to Polaris HQ. They’ll have to send a team out here to investigate. Good work Alice.”

Alice felt particularly pleased with herself. She couldn’t stop smiling as she went about preparing her report. Phil Turnbull couldn’t keep his eyes off her, even though he was supposed to be alert to any potential threats. Manuel noticed Phil’s focus and didn’t like it.

“Are we threat free Mr Turnbull?” asked Manuel.

Phil glanced at his workstation before responding in the affirmative. Phil could tell from Manuel’s stare that he had been busted. He kept his focus on his workstation.

It took Alice ten minutes to prepare her report and attach the data analysis. She hit the Send button at 1620 hours. It would be arriving at Polaris HQ around 1830.

Chapter 5. Nova Vista 1810, 10 June

Phil Yomoto shook his head as he read the Fleet Admiral’s latest message. It was not odd to be asked for a situation report on a directive. But why the specific request for the asset locations. She could get that from the common operating picture (COP). It was updated continuously from all Fleet ships and facilities.

But then Phil realised. ‘She assumes I have already despatched the assets and for secrecy reasons suppressed their true locations. OK’ he said to himself. He typed up a quick response and hit send before making his way out for dinner.

It was during his dinner at the Dragon’s Palace restaurant that he was hailed by the Polaris HQ watch officer and asked to come back in urgently.

With a beckoning wave he attracted the attention of the waiter and told him he had to go back to work and would he mind making it a take-away instead. The waiter was not surprised and he smiled to reassure his most honoured guest that he would have it ready directly. True to his word the plastic carry bag was presented to Phil before he had finished paying for it.

He looked at the fancy analogue clock with the gold dragon emblazoned on a red background. The gold long hand was at eight and the short hand midway between the six and seven. By the time Phil walked the two blocks to the base and then another 100m to his building and up to his office it was 1855.

LCmd Jenny Wetheril was waiting for him at his office. “Sir, we just got this report in from the Phantom when it was in the Holstrum belt.”

While Phil read the report, Rudi arrived in his civvies. Phil glanced up at him. “Sorry Sir” said Rudi apologising for his dress.

“No need” said Phil without looking up from his console.

Jenny passed her console to Rudi, who began reading.

“We’ve been looking in the wrong place” said Rudi annoyed.

“Looks like it” said Phil. “Do we know what it’s been sending? Get your tech team out to that satellite and have them conduct a full analysis and verification. They could be doing anything to our comms.”

“We should do a checksum verification with all senders and receivers” suggested Jenny.

“Yep that too” said Rudi. “I think we should shut it down now Sir.”

“No, but have the tech team monitor all incoming and outgoing transmissions. I want a full comparison done. We need to know what they are doing.”

“That could take days Sir and who knows what intel they will have gained in that time. All our COP data goes through that satellite Sir. We are wide open if they have access to that and we should assume they do. I recommend strongly that we shut it down now” said Rudi.

There was something in what Rudi had just said that made Phil ponder. He knew that Rudi was right about the COP data. “Oh shit” he said out loud.

“I really think we should Sir” said Rudi, standing solidly with his feet apart like a boxer facing his opponent.

“What Sir?” asked Jenny at the same time.

Phil put his hand on Rudi’s shoulder “It’s all right Rudi. I take you point. I was just thinking about what you said about the COP data and I realise that the rogan may now have something even more important.”

“What?” asked Rudi “what’s more important than that?”

Phil’s mind was racing now. He was only half focusing on Rudi’s question. He stopped and looked at Rudi. “The location of the Resolute. I think I may have just given it to them.”

“Really?” asked an incredulous Rudi.

“Yeah it’s a story I best not tell you Rudi. Suffice to say that we can assume the rogan know the location of the Resolute. I wonder…”

“What?” asked Rudi.

“What they will do with that information. What will they do?”

“Do we close it down or not?” asked Rudi.

“Not for now. We may be able to turn this to our advantage.”

“How?”

“Let me ponder that some more. In the meantime, get your tech team there asap.” Phil started thinking but then realised that Rudi and Jenny were waiting for him to dismiss them. “You’ve done well. Thanks.”

Phil was still pondering at 2010 when his reply would be copied and transmitted to the parasitic AI’s nearby transponder. The original message would be amended and sent to the acting Fleet Admiral. Its text would be changed to “I confirm that directive Zulu 42892166 #43598 has been aborted and terminated.”

What the parasitic AI did not know, nor did its programmers know, was that Admiral Phil Yomoto was now aware of their mischief. He did not know the full extent but by a process of deduction he was getting closer.

At 2030 he texted Dave “My office 0830.”

Dave was just making a coffee for himself and a hot chocolate for Rihan when his communicator pinged. He read the message. “I gotta come in with you tomorrow morning.”

Rihan accepted the hot chocolate as she rotated her legs off the rest of the lounge to allow Dave to sit beside her. They each took a sip and watched out the windows at the night sky. Dave remembered the bird of prey that afternoon as a fighter was taking off from the fighter base beyond the spaceport. For all Dave knew it could be one of his pilots.

He thought back 21 years when he had wanted to be a fighter pilot and the disappointment he felt when the eye tests results doomed his ambition. At the time he thought it was the worst day of his life. He remembered how his Dad had had a chat with him later and told him that there were others way to fly. It had come as a surprise to hear his father say that as he had never wanted him to fly in the first place.

“Penny for your thoughts” asked Rihan.

“Oh I just remember how my Dad had originally been against me joining the Fleet.”

“Yeah?”

“He wanted me to be a lawyer.”

“You’d have made a good lawyer.”

“How so?” said Dave incredulously.

“Well for a start, you’re argumentative.” Dave rolled his eyes. “And you’re a pedant” she added.

“Oh gee…” said Dave.

Rihan pressed on. “And you’re full of it.” She dug her finger into his side below his ribs, making him squirm. He spilt a bit of his coffee and put the cup down on the coffee table. He looked at her menacingly. He reached out and took her cup, placing it next to his.

She leaned away from him, picking up a cushion and shielding herself with it. And then with a cheeky smile she added “Well you are and you know it.”

“You know that cushion’s not going to protect you?”

She immediately wacked him with it.

Dave feigned to be shocked. “Unprovoked attack!” he accused.

“A pre-emptive strike is justified if the enemy’s intent is known” she said as she tried to whack him again. But this time he had her free arm in his hand and was pressing on top of her. She continued to wallop him with the cushion. She used her leg to unbalance Dave and he rolled onto the floor and she on top of him.

“And what about your intent?” asked Dave. He was breathing heavily after the sudden exertion. She was on top of him now. Her arms pinned him to the floor and her curls dropped over his face.

“Oh I aim to have my way with you.” She leant down further and kissed him but he would not open his lips despite how hard she pressed with her tongue. She let go of his arm and with her free hand caressed the side of his face. He softened a bit and she let go of the other arm and caressed the other side. She pressed one more time with her tongue and he let her in. His hands, now free, moved down and pulled up her gown and found her rump. He squeezed gently as she probed him.

She came up for air. “I see you’ve come to grips with the problem” and she gave him a mischievous smile. He took his left hand off and slid it under her gown and onto her right breast.

“I think I’ve discovered another” he said with an equally mischievous smile.

“Oh there’s more to be had” and Rihan pulled her gown undone.

“So I see. So I see.”

Chapter 6. Washington DC 2100, 10 June

Rose McCubbin stared out of her apartment window 102 floors up in the upmarket Chelsea Mews. She didn’t understand why Yomoto had not returned her messages. ‘He’s had more than enough time’ she fumed.

‘Bastard….he’s just used me.’ She felt miserable. ‘Twenty five years of hard work, kowtowing, putting up with idiots, especially male idiots…and it’s all come to this.’

She took another sip of bourbon. She looked at the glass and the empty one next to it and knew she should ease off. But right now it was the only solace she had.

‘Bastard…’

Her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. She rejected Bernie’s call.

‘Bastard…’

Chapter 7. Tumos 0800, 11 June

Aubrey had already eaten breakfast and was determined to do a final inspection before take-off at 1000 hours. She found Martin Lodi on the tarmac arguing with one of the facility staff. “What’s the problem?” she asked.

“He says they don’t have the required rations. All they can give us at the moment is 35 days’ worth. He says we can pick up the rest at Niku.”

“I’m sorry Maam” said the staff sergeant. “We should have been given more notice.”

“OK, is everything else loaded?”

“It soon will be” said Martin. “Should be done within the hour.”

Aubrey could see, in the early morning light, that Martin genuinely believed he would be ready on time. She liked the way he remained cool under pressure. Another flatbed truck pulled up with more provisions. Its containers were being transferred via the conveyor belt into the hold. His staff seemed to be working well.