Vigilante (16 page)
She gingerly pulled her elbow away and reluctantly walked beside Sewick.
She hoped she’d have time later to explore the alien artifacts and structure. Somewhere, she
thought jealously, a VIP was getting a full tour.
It’s probably that
bastard Parmet, with the homicidal redhead who claims to be his wife.
She hoped she’d have time later to explore the alien artifacts and structure. Somewhere, she
thought jealously, a VIP was getting a full tour.
It’s probably that
bastard Parmet, with the homicidal redhead who claims to be his wife.
Maria Guillotte was showing an input device to State Prince Isrid
Parmet, his son, Chander, and his wives, Sabina and Garnet.
Parmet, his son, Chander, and his wives, Sabina and Garnet.
“Look at this, Dad.” Chander was having fun at the sloped console,
holding his hand in front of each of the large symbols to watch a holographic symbol extend.
Once the symbol hovered above the console, almost touching his hand, Chander could rotate the
symbol by tilting his hand left, right, up, and down.
holding his hand in front of each of the large symbols to watch a holographic symbol extend.
Once the symbol hovered above the console, almost touching his hand, Chander could rotate the
symbol by tilting his hand left, right, up, and down.
“You’re sure it’s all right for him to play with this?” Garnet asked
anxiously, looking up at the symbols that appeared on the wall above.
anxiously, looking up at the symbols that appeared on the wall above.
Chander frowned at Garnet’s words, but became quickly distracted and
enamored by another symbol. Sabina grinned as she watched her son; Parmet was also happy to see
Chander’s sullenness and ennui washed away.
enamored by another symbol. Sabina grinned as she watched her son; Parmet was also happy to see
Chander’s sullenness and ennui washed away.
“Don’t worry, this console connects to read-only information archives.
The Builders used lattice storage, and their versions of several crystal vaults are installed
behind this wall.” Maria also added the
somaural
signal of
no physical harm possible
. Chander wasn’t watching, but Garnet
relaxed. Garnet rarely projected, but she was adept at reading
somaural
signals.
The Builders used lattice storage, and their versions of several crystal vaults are installed
behind this wall.” Maria also added the
somaural
signal of
no physical harm possible
. Chander wasn’t watching, but Garnet
relaxed. Garnet rarely projected, but she was adept at reading
somaural
signals.
“We can’t access or understand their information?” Isrid watched the
same set of symbols display after each of his son’s attempts. The symbols seemed to chide,
giving him the feeling of an error message.
same set of symbols display after each of his son’s attempts. The symbols seemed to chide,
giving him the feeling of an error message.
“Sorry, not that easy, SP. This isn’t a v-play,” Maria said. “It’ll be a
long time before we can hope to understand any alien symbols. As for this terminal, we can’t
begin to know the security protocols. It might require voice or DNA keys.”
long time before we can hope to understand any alien symbols. As for this terminal, we can’t
begin to know the security protocols. It might require voice or DNA keys.”
“How long do you think it’ll take?” Sabina asked, while her hand
flickered,
How long will
you
be here?
Sabina hid her
somaural
question from Garnet and Chander, but not
from Isrid.
flickered,
How long will
you
be here?
Sabina hid her
somaural
question from Garnet and Chander, but not
from Isrid.
“Years, I expect.” Maria ignored the additional
somaural
content of the question, just as she had ignored Sabina’s earlier
signals. “We’re lucky the Builders didn’t create multipurpose interfaces, as we’d design them.
They seemed to intend each input console to work with one particular system, which has helped
us enormously. For instance, we can play with this console forever, knowing that it won’t
affect other systems in this complex.”
somaural
content of the question, just as she had ignored Sabina’s earlier
signals. “We’re lucky the Builders didn’t create multipurpose interfaces, as we’d design them.
They seemed to intend each input console to work with one particular system, which has helped
us enormously. For instance, we can play with this console forever, knowing that it won’t
affect other systems in this complex.”
“That’s why you were able to get power and environmental systems online
so fast?” Isrid asked.
so fast?” Isrid asked.
“I’ll show you the controls to those systems.” Maria led them deeper
into the complex, through strangely angled halls that were too tall for humans. “Everything in
this complex is efficient in its power usage, and it’s the efficiency we want to understand.
Otherwise, their generation of heat and electrical current was pretty standard. They used a
nuclear fission reactor and the fuel had decayed to where it was unusable, but the shielding
and thermal conversion materials are outstanding. We’d like to study them more. As for getting
a working reactor, the team mimicked the fuel form factors and experimented with isotope
mixtures and refinement to get the right neutron flux. After months of work, the combined
research team managed to power the environmental systems, to include pressurizing the complex
with an oxygen-nitrogen mixture.”
into the complex, through strangely angled halls that were too tall for humans. “Everything in
this complex is efficient in its power usage, and it’s the efficiency we want to understand.
Otherwise, their generation of heat and electrical current was pretty standard. They used a
nuclear fission reactor and the fuel had decayed to where it was unusable, but the shielding
and thermal conversion materials are outstanding. We’d like to study them more. As for getting
a working reactor, the team mimicked the fuel form factors and experimented with isotope
mixtures and refinement to get the right neutron flux. After months of work, the combined
research team managed to power the environmental systems, to include pressurizing the complex
with an oxygen-nitrogen mixture.”
“Were they able to date these structures using the fuel?” Isrid
asked.
asked.
“That would assume we knew the original ratios of isotopes in their
fuel, but we don’t. It gives us broad brackets, yes, but we’re looking at how the entrances
became buried and the pitting of the covering surface matter to make more accurate age
estimates.” Maria paused for effect, allowing the dawdling Chander to catch up with the adults.
“We think this structure could have been built between ten and fifteen thousand UT years
ago.”
fuel, but we don’t. It gives us broad brackets, yes, but we’re looking at how the entrances
became buried and the pitting of the covering surface matter to make more accurate age
estimates.” Maria paused for effect, allowing the dawdling Chander to catch up with the adults.
“We think this structure could have been built between ten and fifteen thousand UT years
ago.”
“Wow.” Chander stroked the polished front of the nearest support pillar.
“It doesn’t look that old. Everything’s so
clean
.”
“It doesn’t look that old. Everything’s so
clean
.”
Both Garnet and Sabina smiled at Chander’s comment.
“That’s very perceptive, Chander,” Maria said, “because they did clean
out all atmosphere and organic matter. On purpose, it would appear, when they pulled out of
here.”
out all atmosphere and organic matter. On purpose, it would appear, when they pulled out of
here.”
“Can’t we be more precise?” Isrid asked. “That’s a five-thousand-year
window.”
window.”
Maria glanced around at the floors, walls, ceilings, and lighted panels.
“We’re still analyzing the alloys and composites they used. Many of them aren’t made from
materials local to this solar system—that makes it almost impossible to date. Also, without
atmosphere or organic matter, referential methods using oxidation or radiocarbon ratios are
out, even if we had the hope of finding references.”
“We’re still analyzing the alloys and composites they used. Many of them aren’t made from
materials local to this solar system—that makes it almost impossible to date. Also, without
atmosphere or organic matter, referential methods using oxidation or radiocarbon ratios are
out, even if we had the hope of finding references.”
“Not much to go on, but you could use . . .” Isrid’s voice trailed away
as he thought through the scientific dating methods used in the Sol system. Every method he
could think of was referential to defined material, within the solar system, of known
age.
as he thought through the scientific dating methods used in the Sol system. Every method he
could think of was referential to defined material, within the solar system, of known
age.
“Excuse me, SP.” Maria signaled that she was getting a local message in
her ear bug. Her communication paraphernalia was Autonomist, meaning it was higher quality and
more reliable than Terran technology, which irked Isrid.
her ear bug. Her communication paraphernalia was Autonomist, meaning it was higher quality and
more reliable than Terran technology, which irked Isrid.
“I’ll be right there,” Maria said, pressing her jawbone to activate her
implanted mike.
implanted mike.
With a wry smile, she handed Isrid her slate. “I’m sorry, SP, but I’ve
got an important meeting with the prime contractors. There are maps on the slate, and the areas
allowed for visitors are clearly marked.”
got an important meeting with the prime contractors. There are maps on the slate, and the areas
allowed for visitors are clearly marked.”
Maria nodded to his wives and son. She walked away with a free stride
that stretched her long legs, her medium ash-blond hair bouncing about her shoulders.
that stretched her long legs, her medium ash-blond hair bouncing about her shoulders.
Sabina drew close to Isrid’s side and they both watched Maria walk away,
until she turned at the end of the corridor.
until she turned at the end of the corridor.
“She’s distant.” Sabina had a scowl on her face that caused her lower
lip to pout. Her fingers flickered and said,
Inappropriate behavior for a
lover.
lip to pout. Her fingers flickered and said,
Inappropriate behavior for a
lover.
Garnet rolled her eyes at her co-wife’s comment. “She’s busy, Sabina.
She’s being
professional
.”
She’s being
professional
.”
Sabina looked up at Isrid with a cocked eyebrow, so he added, “I’d
agree.”
agree.”
Sabina continued to express displeasure, a well-practiced projection for
her, as she followed her son. Chander was down the hall reading notes posted by the
archeological team.
her, as she followed her son. Chander was down the hall reading notes posted by the
archeological team.
Isrid had lied. He was as disturbed as Sabina by Maria’s behavior, but
not because he felt slighted. Maria was hiding something. He looked up to catch Garnet
observing him. She nodded, and walked after Sabina.
not because he felt slighted. Maria was hiding something. He looked up to catch Garnet
observing him. She nodded, and walked after Sabina.
CHAPTER 9
Considering the size and sequencing possibilities, we’re lucky that
for 99.5 percent of our genetic makeup, humans are identical. This leaves 0.5 percent to
account for genetically determined differences in appearance, behavior, and health, and
that’s enough for decades of research.
Human Genome Project Review
, Volume
122, 2101.092.23.00 UT, indexed by
Democritus 23
under Cause and
Effect Imperative
I
ndecision and irritation are not definable
conditions for a computational entity, but Muse 3 considered itself—
pause
for search
—inhibited by its current operating parameters.
ndecision and irritation are not definable
conditions for a computational entity, but Muse 3 considered itself—
pause
for search
—inhibited by its current operating parameters.
After Ari left for her meeting, Muse 3 continued to cycle the request
for bandwidth from the
Pilgrimage
. Meanwhile, it started a process
to analyze CAW SEP 12.x, which described emergency procedures applicable in Consortium space.
G-145 did not yet contain a Consortium world, but there were applicable procedures for
Autonomists in new space.
for bandwidth from the
Pilgrimage
. Meanwhile, it started a process
to analyze CAW SEP 12.x, which described emergency procedures applicable in Consortium space.
G-145 did not yet contain a Consortium world, but there were applicable procedures for
Autonomists in new space.
Muse 3 ran through the procedure 16,384 times and with each analysis,
produced a fuzzy decision set. There was still no response from the
Pilgrimage
. Three hours, fifty minutes, and 4.2 UT seconds after Ari left, the
cam-eye at the ship’s slip relayed video of three men running through the halls. Each man
carried a weapon—
pause for pattern matching
—Muse 3 determined two
were medium-voltage stunners and the third was a flechette pistol. There was still no response
from the
Pilgrimage
. Muse 3 went through all decision sets and
while flechette weapons were illegal on Consortium habitats, this event didn’t warrant any
action on its part. Seven minutes and 52.8 UT seconds after this event, all communication
channels through the Beta Priamos Command Post shut down, making Muse 3’s requests to the
Pilgrimage III
impossible.
produced a fuzzy decision set. There was still no response from the
Pilgrimage
. Three hours, fifty minutes, and 4.2 UT seconds after Ari left, the
cam-eye at the ship’s slip relayed video of three men running through the halls. Each man
carried a weapon—
pause for pattern matching
—Muse 3 determined two
were medium-voltage stunners and the third was a flechette pistol. There was still no response
from the
Pilgrimage
. Muse 3 went through all decision sets and
while flechette weapons were illegal on Consortium habitats, this event didn’t warrant any
action on its part. Seven minutes and 52.8 UT seconds after this event, all communication
channels through the Beta Priamos Command Post shut down, making Muse 3’s requests to the
Pilgrimage III
impossible.
Pause for analysis
.
.
Muse 3 redefined its situation as externally constrained. When
Aether’s Touch
was docked at Athens Point, communication across the
Hellas solar system was effortless and faster than light, thanks to multiple buoys and relays.
Buoys helped move matter, and relays assisted the movement of information through N-space. In
G-145, the buoy was still under manual control by the
Pilgrimage
crew and the relays weren’t yet operational. Now Muse 3 no longer had use of the Command Post
antennae.
Aether’s Touch
was docked at Athens Point, communication across the
Hellas solar system was effortless and faster than light, thanks to multiple buoys and relays.
Buoys helped move matter, and relays assisted the movement of information through N-space. In
G-145, the buoy was still under manual control by the
Pilgrimage
crew and the relays weren’t yet operational. Now Muse 3 no longer had use of the Command Post
antennae.
Aether’s Touch
, however, was a second-wave
prospecting ship. All N-space ships had smart skin antennae designed for communication within
ten thousand kilometers, but
Aether’s Touch
also supported telebot
control and gathering of scientific data. This ship had redundant, separate, and reconfigurable
antennae for better transmission and reception of wider frequency bands than required by
passenger or transport ships. Muse 3 turned the two most sensitive antennae in-system toward
the
Pilgrimage III
, sitting between the paths of Sophia I and II’s
orbits. It could detect or initiate light-speed transmissions itself, without buoy
support.
, however, was a second-wave
prospecting ship. All N-space ships had smart skin antennae designed for communication within
ten thousand kilometers, but
Aether’s Touch
also supported telebot
control and gathering of scientific data. This ship had redundant, separate, and reconfigurable
antennae for better transmission and reception of wider frequency bands than required by
passenger or transport ships. Muse 3 turned the two most sensitive antennae in-system toward
the
Pilgrimage III
, sitting between the paths of Sophia I and II’s
orbits. It could detect or initiate light-speed transmissions itself, without buoy
support.
Pause for analysis of input from
sensors
.
sensors
.
As small as the probabilities were, the orientation of the antennae
fortuitously allowed Muse 3 to observe another unusual event. Flashes of visible and infrared
light on one of the
Pilgrimage
’s spires indicated small explosive
charges. Then a module separated and began floating away from the generational ship. Infrared
spectra showed the escape of a small amount of life-supporting gases from the
Pilgrimage III
.
fortuitously allowed Muse 3 to observe another unusual event. Flashes of visible and infrared
light on one of the
Pilgrimage
’s spires indicated small explosive
charges. Then a module separated and began floating away from the generational ship. Infrared
spectra showed the escape of a small amount of life-supporting gases from the
Pilgrimage III
.
This was light-speed data, so the event had happened a few UT hours ago.
However, these disparate events now qualified as an “emergency condition” against the decision
sets and Ari must be notified. Muse 3 explored ways to send a message to the surface of Beta
Priamos since the station CP comm support wasn’t responding.
However, these disparate events now qualified as an “emergency condition” against the decision
sets and Ari must be notified. Muse 3 explored ways to send a message to the surface of Beta
Priamos since the station CP comm support wasn’t responding.
Muse 3 now classified its condition as
frustrated
. The station’s structure and orientation prevented Muse 3 from
directing ship antennae toward the moon’s surface; no clear shot was available. Without a
directed signal through an antenna—
pause for calculation
—the
surface was too far away to discern omnidirectional comm signals above the ambient noise. Muse
3 widened its parameters and used all available sensor input to search for a solution.
frustrated
. The station’s structure and orientation prevented Muse 3 from
directing ship antennae toward the moon’s surface; no clear shot was available. Without a
directed signal through an antenna—
pause for calculation
—the
surface was too far away to discern omnidirectional comm signals above the ambient noise. Muse
3 widened its parameters and used all available sensor input to search for a solution.
One of the behemoths, as Ari called the freighters on the class B docks,
had disconnected from Beta Priamos and was moving away under light thrust. It was also
broadcasting an omnidirectional distress call. The freighter’s transponder ID matched the
registration of the
Golden Bull
. The distress codes indicated
possible control problems, but Muse 3 didn’t analyze this further because the orientation and
angle of the large, flat, and reflective surface of the freighter presented a solution.
had disconnected from Beta Priamos and was moving away under light thrust. It was also
broadcasting an omnidirectional distress call. The freighter’s transponder ID matched the
registration of the
Golden Bull
. The distress codes indicated
possible control problems, but Muse 3 didn’t analyze this further because the orientation and
angle of the large, flat, and reflective surface of the freighter presented a solution.
Using one antenna to track the slow movement, Muse 3 could guide another
antenna and bounce a signal off the behemoth’s belly down to the moon surface. Of course, the
signal would be attenuated, so message bit rate and size had to be reduced—
pause for calculation
.
antenna and bounce a signal off the behemoth’s belly down to the moon surface. Of course, the
signal would be attenuated, so message bit rate and size had to be reduced—
pause for calculation
.
Muse 3 started reconfiguring antennae.
“
This
is Pilgrimage Line’s best geneticist?”
Abram’s voice dripped with scorn and Tahir looked up from his station to watch an elderly woman
step from the airlock onto the control deck. Her dark eyes glittered as they moved quickly,
taking in the bloodstains that cleaning crews were removing from the airlock and bulkheads. She
glanced about the control deck and when her eyes met Tahir’s, he almost gasped at their
accusation, wanting to immediately exonerate himself and protest that he couldn’t
do
anything to stop his father.
This
is Pilgrimage Line’s best geneticist?”
Abram’s voice dripped with scorn and Tahir looked up from his station to watch an elderly woman
step from the airlock onto the control deck. Her dark eyes glittered as they moved quickly,
taking in the bloodstains that cleaning crews were removing from the airlock and bulkheads. She
glanced about the control deck and when her eyes met Tahir’s, he almost gasped at their
accusation, wanting to immediately exonerate himself and protest that he couldn’t
do
anything to stop his father.
“Yes, I’m Dr. Lee Pilgrimage,” she said in a calm tone, and walked over
to the command chair where Abram sat, circled by consoles.
to the command chair where Abram sat, circled by consoles.
As she walked, Tahir revised his estimate of her age upward. Her bone
structure was slight, although all the crèche-get were slim and tall. Her hair was white and
puffy, her skin papery and wrinkled in places, but she stood straight and proud, unlike the
hunched old women in Tahir’s tribe. Perhaps this resulted from good nutrition, a generous
environment, and medicine.
structure was slight, although all the crèche-get were slim and tall. Her hair was white and
puffy, her skin papery and wrinkled in places, but she stood straight and proud, unlike the
hunched old women in Tahir’s tribe. Perhaps this resulted from good nutrition, a generous
environment, and medicine.
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