Temple of S.A.R.A.H. 5: Debug Mode (3 page)

“What about a defense for Sarah?” Alicyn asked.

“She is capable of actively monitoring of every function and request before it’s processed. I’m not saying she’s invulnerable, but she has to be pretty damn close,” I said. “Think about it, but don’t try anything please. Like I said, you
shouldn’t
be able to do anything without her knowing about it, but I don’t really want to take that chance, do you?”

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L
ong-term care

Main Medical Facility

Alliance Apollo Base

Selene, Earth’s moon

Sol System

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C
hristy was looking over the latest report from the biocytes that were rebuilding Commander Shakier. She was doing very well. In fact, there was no reason she couldn’t be allowed to awaken for short periods. The biocytes had rebuilt her internal organs and torso. The wounds on her head and face had healed and her hair had even regrown. Her own body functions had been supporting her for the last two weeks while the support equipment of the pod had been in stand-by mode.

The ‘cytes were currently working on rebuilding her extremities and conditioning her muscles so she would be able to move when her arms and legs were finished. Doctor H’arn joined her in the private room and smiled at her.

“She is making remarkable progress, Doctor. She is capable of sustaining her own life functions now,” H’arn said.

Christy nodded. “Yes she is, I was going to speak to you about removing her from the pod. I think we might even be able to allow her to awaken for short periods as well. From what I’m seeing here, she will be ready to begin physical therapy by next week.”

“Remarkable! This is truly remarkable Doctor Christy! Your biocytes will completely change how some of us practice medicine!” H’arn replied.

Christy smiled at the happy being. At least he didn’t get overly excited like most Simonians did. “I am only happy that I was able to help in some small way. Even one life saved will be reward enough for me.”

“Well, there are going to be many more than that. Four of the wounded personnel from the recent battle have already been discharged thanks to the rapid healing of your biocytes. A very pretty young girl suffered horrible burns when she was exposed to radiation from the ship’s power core. She has been discharged without a scar! Her hair will take time to regrow, but the ‘cytes removed the scar tissue and replaced it with healthy skin cells!” H’arn replied. “In less than a week! She should have expired from the tissue damage and radiation exposure!”

“May I see the data from those patients, Doctor?” Christy asked.

“Of course, Doctor. You will find their signed agreements for both the treatment as well as the sharing of their data with you in the records of each individual,” H’arn said. “Perhaps you will soon be able to refine this treatment and allow it to be given to other facilities, such as those on the ships?”

“Possibly, Doctor H’arn. I really would like to see more data on their performance before I release them for general use. I feel as though we are going recklessly fast as it is. ‘Above all else, do no harm’ is a tenet I take very seriously,” Christy replied, kindly.

“I understand, Doctor. I have checked with my Earth based medical brethren as well as the AI Sarah to understand your training before we began this. As I understand it, the work you have been doing here in hospital has more than covered the Earth requirement of a medical residency. I have asked the AI Sarah to officially file the completion of your residency with the medical services of your planet as well as those of the Alliance. I have yet to hear a reply from the Alliance Medical Service, however, you have qualified in both education as well as practical application of knowledge to receive the title of Medical Doctor,” H’arn said. “For the time being, you are free to practice medicine in this facility as I have sponsored you. Once we receive word from the Alliance Medical Service, along with the official documents, you will be free to practice medicine anywhere in the Alliance.”

Christy didn’t know what to say, so she just hugged the large ape. “Thank you Doctor H’arn!”

H’arn was taken off-guard by the hug, but returned it once he recovered. “You come of a remarkable family, Doctor Cowan. Your husband is not the only gifted member in it.”

When she let go of him, he cleared his throat. “Now, back to our patient. You think she could be allowed to return to wakefulness? What effect will that have on the biocytes if she tried to move one of her limbs?”

“I imagine it would hurt a great deal if we did not tell the biocytes to block the commands. She will be awake, but we will have to tell her she has been temporarily paralyzed in order for us to heal her limbs.”

H’arn looked thoughtful. “Once she begins to awaken she may not be coherent for a time. Blocking the use of her extremities might panic her.”

“We can keep her calm with the biocytes until she is aware enough to understand what’s going on around her. However, I would recommend we advise Admiral Vance before we awaken her. He has been very concerned for her progress,” Christy replied.

H’arn nodded. “I agree, okay, let’s let the Admiral know, then wake her up. I think she has been sleeping quite long enough.”

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O
ffice of the Base Commander

Alliance Apollo Base

Selene, Earth’s moon

Sol System

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“C
ouncilor, I apologize for this, but I have a problem I really don’t know how to deal with. As I’m sure you know, the Arac Grand Hive seeded Earth almost a week ago. It is my duty to protect this planet as well as this sector. If I want even a hope of containing the spread of the Aracs, I need to act as soon as I possibly can. Yet I have been getting nothing from the leaders of the effected countries. Sir, this assault will be taking place in two days. To wait any longer would risk losing the entire planet to the hive. Honestly, I don’t know what else can be done, but permission or not, my troops will be hitting the ground on Earth, in forty-nine hours to begin removing the infestation that has already begun,” Vance said.

“I was afraid they’d do that to you, Admiral. Plan your assault, we’ll handle the dingo’s on the’ planet,” Earth Councilor Allan Ralston replied. Eric had told him that by his accent, the man had been recruited from a place called ‘Australia’. Vance had no idea where that was and didn’t really care as long as they took this nightmare away from him.

The Councilor nodded. “Don’t worry about a thing, Mate. If there is a next time you find yourself in need of dealing with those blokes, just you give me a call. I’ll handle it for ya.”

“Thank you, Councilor. That will make this far easier than it has been so far,” Vance replied.

The man snorted and nodded. “Those people can be idiots sometimes, Admiral. They have two main worries that really concern them. Will what you’re asking threaten either their power or their money. In this case, you’re talking about threatening both and they are trying to buy as much time as possible in order to work out every angle they could. I’ll simply tell them their time is up, and this is going to happen. If they are in the way, well, that’s their bad luck.”

“We won’t fire on them. We’re there to protect them, not kill them ourselves,” Vance said.

“We both know that, Admiral, but they don’t! I can pretty much guarantee you that they will do everything in their power to capture anything they can from your people. Weapons, armor, even a communicator. I would say that they will even go so far as to attack you to get them. Now, I’ve been told that your Marines are some seriously tough wombats, but they could try to hit you with artillery or heavy weapons. Just try to be prepared. Even though we told them we are there to protect them, they will still see it as an opportunity to get their hands on some advanced technology,” the Councilor said. “For the leaders on Earth, it’s all about greed and power. Getting our advanced tech can get them both.”

“Are they willing to risk losing their planet to get it?” Vance asked.

“No matter what you tell them, Admiral, they will never believe that,” Allan replied. “Their priority will not be to help protect the people, but to get your gear. They believe the people will take care of themselves, but if any civilians do die, they can always blame that on you.”

“That’s criminal!” Vance replied, shocked.

“Yes it is, but that’s Earth. Good luck Admiral,” Allan said and broke the connection.

Alone in his office, Vance thought about what the man had said. “Sarah? Can you verify what the councilor told me? I just don’t see how a person like that could be allowed in public office.”

“Admiral,” Sarah replied as she took form in his office. “I’m afraid I have no direct experience to draw on to answer your question. However, I can tell you that there is plenty of evidence to support Councilor Ralston’s assertion. My Lord Cowan was considered ‘paranoid’ and a ‘conspiracy theorist’ by many on Earth. However, he had ample evidence on each situation he was accused of being paranoid about. Still, no one believed him and the evidence was removed or destroyed before it could be independently verified.

“From what I have observed of those in power on Earth, it certainly appears that there is large scale corruption taking place on a daily basis. In a lot of cases it is very difficult to understand exactly who it is a government is trying to serve.”

“How can that be allowed to stand? Why do the people allow it?”

“The Earth is a diverse place, Admiral. There is no single governing body. The United Nations has no real power but does try to keep the nations talking to each other instead of fighting. Since the fall of Communism in the former Soviet Union, the United States has become the de facto police agency for the planet; however, many in that country believe that a political collapse or civil uprising is not only likely but inevitable. There are many problems on Earth, Admiral. But somehow, for better or worse, they always seem to work them out.”

“I guess I just can’t understand how a planet can even function like that,” Vance replied. “Then again, I’m a soldier, not a politician or a political scientist. Please pass the word to our Marines that the mission will launch in forty-eight hours. They are to be heavily armored and prepared to repel bombardment by native militaries Assist any and all civilians, but keep all native militaries away. I want the unit leaders to make absolutely sure every piece of equipment is accounted for before we launch as well as upon return. Nothing is to be left for the Earth governments to exploit.”

“Understood Admiral. Orders sent. Do you wish me to schedule a final planning mission for tomorrow evening?” Sarah asked.

“That would be good, Sarah,” Vance replied. “I think I should warn the commanders just how screwed up the situation could get.”

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C
owan Residence

Alliance Apollo Base

Selene, Earth’s Moon

Sol System

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E
llie leaned back from her terminal and sighed. “Sarah? Do you have a moment?”

“Of course I do, Ellie. What can I help you with?” the AI asked as she took form in the small room.

“Well, I was doing some research for an essay in my xeno class and I’m having difficulty locating the information I want,” Ellie replied. “Can you help me?”

“I can, but I must be credited as a source in the paper. Your instructor may deduct points for my assistance,” Sarah warned.

“I understand, Sarah. I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t
really
stuck,” Ellie explained.

“Perhaps I can simply give you advice for your search, what are you looking for?” Sarah asked.

“Well, I’m trying to do a paper on how the Aracs conquer planets. But I’m having a lot of difficulty finding specific information on almost every aspect of it! It’s really getting frustrating!” Ellie explained.

“You are having trouble because you are searching for information that simply doesn’t exist, Ellie. We do not have very much information on the Aracs at all. What little we do have seems to be either be incorrect, or at the least inaccurate. We are finding that the information we had on that race is at best, flawed. It is suspected that the information was mostly misinformation planted by the Veranorian Synod to mislead us,” Sarah replied. “I am surprised that your instructor agreed to allow you to write this when they would have known that any information we have would be inaccurate and unproven.”

“I haven’t submitted my Thesis statement yet. He actually doesn’t know yet,” Ellie replied in disappointment. “I was really hoping to be able to write this paper, I was even planning on interviewing a couple of Shallans if I could!” 

“Do you have a second choice?” Sarah asked.

“Not really,” Ellie said. “I was so positive we’d have tons of information on the Aracs that I didn’t think of one. It’s a short paper so I was going to focus on how they got weapons so quickly after establishing the hive.”

Sarah just shook her head. “That’s a really good question, Ellie. Unfortunately, we have no idea how they do that. We can’t even be certain about how they communicate. No one has ever entered a hive and returned.”

“Isn’t that exactly what our Marines are about to do?” Ellie asked.

“Well, yes, it is. But this mission is different from other instances.”

“May I ask how so?” Ellie asked, but held up her hand. “I know pending missions are generally classified simply as a matter of protocol and I really don’t need to know specifics. I only want to know what is so different about this situation.”

Sarah nodded. “The situation on Earth is very different in that the hive has not yet matured and begun taking the surface. In all other instances of attempted hive assaults, they were made on planets that had been fully infested and the total number of hives was unknown. We do know that other hives will react to an attack on a different hive, yet we do not know how they are aware of it.

“On Earth, we know that there are only two hives and they are on different continents. We were lucky in that neither seed pod landed near an inhabited area, however, that same isolation will make it difficult to accurately gauge the maturity of the hive,” Sarah explained.