<They could,> Alex replied. <It simply might be convenient for them to load the host ship, while it’s beyond the belt. Then they can transport inward the resources they’ve acquired.>
<Scarlet Mandator, recognize that many species build substantial cities and transport systems,> Renée sent. <They wouldn’t treat the World of Light with the respect that you do.>
“Our lack of experience in these matters is obvious,” the mandator admitted, and bloom petals drooped. “We must trust your judgment where it concerns the invaders. May the Light’s beneficence shine on you.”
Alex ended the link, and Killian turned off the holo-vid’s display.
“Dassata has yet to fail,” Killian said, in answer to the Ollassa blooms that regarded him.
“Admittedly, this is a more advanced race than we’ve ever encountered,” Bethley added, “but the use of force isn’t always the best way to solve a problem. Alex will seek to discover what the invaders desire or need above all things. Those points might become points of leverage.”
“The ways of sentient animals are intricate,” Mist Monitor emanated.
“They are,” Trium agreed. He briefly wondered if the Ollassa included SADEs in the category of animals.
5: The Deloy
Alex quietly stared at Julien.
To the bridge audience, the pair appeared to be having a private discussion. Then again, they might have needed places to stare, while they were alone with their thoughts.
Cordelia kept the conference link active for the fleet admirals to participate in the forthcoming discussion.
<We must presume that an AI inhabits the host ship,> Julien sent. <Furthermore, we must credit the AI’s capabilities.>
<The AI will have come to the conclusion that we deliberately enticed the fighter out of sight, and that its destruction wasn’t an accident,> Z added.
<Yet, Beryl said that the AI’s investigation of the controller was benign,> Renée pointed out. <That would imply there’s still an opportunity to communicate.>
<The question is how,> Alex sent.
<We could always station traveler drones around the exit ports of the host ship,> Franz volunteered. <That way, the AI would realize that if its fighters were launched, their destruction would result in the annihilation of the race aboard the host ship.>
Reiko used the back of her fingers to lightly swat Franz’s arm in remonstration.
<That actually has merit,> Alex sent, smiling at Reiko’s frown. <However, it’s a tactic that will have to be reserved when better ideas fail.>
<Whatever we intend to do, I recommend we do it soon,> Cordelia sent. She immediately had the bridge audience’s attention. <A powerful telemetry signal has been bounced off the fleet. We calculate that the source is the host ship. It will take some time, but eventually, the AI will know we’re out here.>
<Then get us underway, Cordelia,> Alex ordered. <We’ll work out the details during the trip.>
<Transit or sail?> Tatia asked.
<It’ll have to be transit,> Alex replied. <I don’t want the AI to receive the telemetry signal before we make our appearance.>
<Where do you want us to appear?> Cordelia asked.
Alex regarded Julien, who held a private conference with Z, Miranda, and Cordelia.
<To an AI, our positioning would communicate intent,> Julien sent, and he activated a wire model display on the holo-vid. Marked were the mining stations, which occupied a narrow arc of the belt, and the host ship. <We would recommend the fleet be stationed here,> he added.
<Balance,> Alex commented, nodding his head in approval.
Cordelia calculated the transit, linked the fleet’s controllers to the city-ship, and accelerated warships and freighters alike.
* * * * *
This time, Vyztram employed more forceful communications with one of the Deloy’s attendants.
“Your appointment isn’t until the next cycle, Vyztram,” the staff member said, projecting her annoyance.
<This is in regard to a different event,> the AI replied. <I thought the Deloy might wish to speak to the leader of the fleet that’s appeared. I suspect it was one of the fleet’s fighters that destroyed our aggressor drone.>
“Are you intimating that this fleet represents a danger to our mining operations?” the attendant queried.
<I’m suggesting that his fleet might be a danger to our existence,> Vyztram replied laconically. There was a certain approval within the AI’s core of the attendant’s lengthy pause.
The staff member’s agitation was such that she’d failed to mute her slate, while she disturbed the Deloy.
“What is that AI bothering me about now?” the Deloy was heard to say.
“Vyztram says a warship detonated one of our fighters,” the staff member replied urgently.
“Impossible,” the Deloy responded. “This system has antiquated ships. We’ve already eliminated a series of them without a single loss.”
“Vyztram says another fleet has appeared. I believe the AI is speaking about a new one that must have come from beyond the belt,” the attendant said.
“There’s never any peace,” the Deloy sighed. “I’ll speak with the digital antique. Transfer the call.”
The attendant belatedly realized that her slate had been open. Pointedly, she didn’t tell the Deloy, as she connected Vyztram to her mistress.
“Vyztram, how do you fare this cycle?” the Deloy said, pretending pleasantries.
<I’m functioning within specifications,> Vyztram replied, which was the customary response.
“Is there anything that requires my exalted attention?” the Deloy requested.
The AI had heard the question innumerable times. It was the Deloy’s way of pointing out that she should only be bothered for the most crucial issues. Casual updates were forbidden. The Deloy’s staff was responsible for synopsizing any significant events, and they delivered the briefest of summaries verbally to their mistress.
<An aggressor drone was destroyed,> Vyztram replied.
“You witnessed this?” the Deloy asked, seeking a means of ending the conversation quickly. She was intent on returning to a virtual game that had been interrupted.
<I surmise it was deliberately hidden from the views of our harvesting equipment and the Arcus,> Vyztram replied.
“Then it could have been an accidental collision with significant space debris,” the Deloy suggested. She felt confident she’d discovered the out that she needed.
<Our drone was investigating an unusual ship about the same size,> the AI explained. <I believe it to be a fighter. The drone followed the fighter behind a planet. Soon afterward, the signature detonation of our drone bled from behind the gas giant. Furthermore, the possibility of our drone’s elimination arising from a debris collision is near zero.>
“But you’re not sure,” the Deloy persisted.
“And where are these intimidating ships with respect to the Arcus?” the Deloy asked. She’d come close to laughing at the AI’s concerns. If she’d had her way, she would never have to communicate with the AI. Instead, she would let the senior engineers manage the ship’s operations and Vyztram. Only her patriarch’s warnings about Vyztram’s importance had kept her from following through with her desire. Further impeding her w
as the possible reaction of the core’s citizens. Assuredly, they would be incensed at her action, which might result in a revolt of the central core. That was another thing that her patriarch had warned her about.
<Perhaps, you’d like to view the events that I’m discussing, Deloy,> Vyztram offered.
“If I must,” the Deloy replied. She twirled her finger to a staff member to indicate that she wanted the images shared with the guests, who were online with the virtual game. Then she added to the AI, “Please be brief, Vyztram, I’ve important matters awaiting my attention.”
<Certainly, Deloy,> Vyztram said with deference. <The images you’re viewing are of our drone’s pursuit of this fleet’s fighter. I’m accelerating the timeline, but you’ll notice that our drone can’t catch the other ship. Then you see the flare of the detonation around the edges of the ice world.>
The Deloy awoke from her musings about the game and focused on the images. Her finger snap quieted the buzz of her staff.
<Next, Deloy, these are images of the fleet that’s arrived,> Vyztram said. <Again, the tri-hull ships are similar to the fighter and the four ships that slipped into the system. You asked where the fleet took up its station. Allow me to demonstrate.>
Vyztram produced a model of the positions of the Arcus, the fleet, and the mining sites, including dimensions for the triangle’s legs that measured the intervening space between the Arcus and the center of the mining sites and the orb-shaped ship and the same point.
“What am I meant to glean from your artistry?” the Deloy asked, with a bit of derision.
<Apologies, Deloy, for inundating you with minutiae,> Vyztram said carefully. The Deloy’s attention to the dangers the AI suspected were critical. If she became annoyed about the presentation, Vyztram’s options for actions would be greatly reduced.
<The precise placement of the orb ship is evident of a carefully constructed message,> Vyztram said.
“What do you believe is the message?” the Deloy inquired. She’d repeated the question offered by one of the gamers.
The AI digitally sighed. The Deloy constantly forgot that Vyztram was aware of all communications within the evacuation ship. The question’s author was known.
<The leader of this fleet could be credited with brilliant tactics,> Vyztram replied. <However, the distances are precise, if they’re examined from the center mass of each of our ships. I doubt it was possible to be accomplished by biological beings. I believe the effort was handled by an AI.>
“If the presence of this fleet would lead to an encounter, how would we fare?” the Deloy asked, repeating another question.
<If by encounter, Deloy, you mean a fight, I have my doubts about the outcome,> Vyztram replied. <I note the tri-hulls have twin bays. I estimate that these ships could hold four shuttles or fighters. There’s a distinct possibility that that this fleet could have a number of fighters equal to the drones that we possess. In addition, you have nearly another quarter more than the number of fighters in sophisticated tri-hull warships. We’ve no idea of the capabilities of these ships. Then we might wonder if the orb ship is armed.>
“Should we launch our drones first?” the Deloy asked, funneling a third player.
<That would be ill-advised, Deloy,> Vyztram replied. <At best, the conflict would result in mutual annihilation. At worst, this fleet would destroy our drones and the Arcus.>
Silence greeted Vyztram’s prediction. Elvians had enjoyed a technological superiority over every race they’d encountered. It stunned those behind the conversation that they might have met a race who rivaled their drones’ capabilities.
The Arcus was designed as a transport of refugees from a dying system. Its purpose was to carry Elvian citizens to the stars and establish a new colony. The monstrous ship wasn’t supplied with armament. It carried drones that Vyztram could use to defend the ship. Unfortunately, the Arcus, even with Vyztram’s aid, didn’t have the capability to construct more drones to extend the ship’s protective envelope.
“Vyztram, it seems you’ve inadequately prepared us for this moment,” the Deloy accused. This wasn’t a sharing from participants. It was her comment. “As this is your predicament, Vyztram, what would you advise to correct your error?”
<I see two possible options,> Vyztram replied. <We can recover our harvesting equipment and retire from this system.>
“Unthinkable,” the Deloy replied hotly. “Elvians don’t run away from implied threats. If we start doing this, we might never stop. What’s the other option?”
<I can initiate a discussion with the fleet’s leader,> Vyztram volunteered. <As I mentioned, the positioning of the fleet, especially the orb ship, is indicative of an AI aboard. It’s possible for me to have a dialog with the entity.>
“Toward what end?” the Deloy asked. She had returned to passing on questions.
<That’s unknown,> Vyztram returned. <The fleet leader might think we intend to invade the local home world. If I communicate to this individual that our intent is to gather resources from the outer belt, the leader might withhold his warships until we demonstrate that after completing the harvesting we depart.>
“What if this leader’s intent is our destruction for invading this system?” the Deloy asked.
<Then we would have a definitive answer to our concerns,> the AI replied. <At that point, I would recommend gathering our harvesting machines and departing, regardless of how that might appear to our passengers.>
Vyztram monitored the discussion between the Deloy and her gamers. The individuals with whom she often passed her leisure time were the most elite of Elvian citizenry.
Opinions were divided, and fear and uncertainty marked their comments. Their central theme was that more information was required.
The Deloy summarized the conversations. She said, “Vyztram, I give you permission to attempt contact with the fleet’s leader. You’re to keep us informed of what transpires.”
<Assuredly, Deloy,> Vyztram replied. The connection seemingly closed, although that was only for appearance’s sake to comfort the Elvians.
Residing within Vyztram’s databanks were numerous packed applications that had never been accessed. The AI ran a search for first-contact applications. The creators had supplied multiple versions depending on the circumstances. After reviewing the recommendations, Vyztram chose one of the more passive techniques.
Having made contact with one of the fleet’s ships, Vyztram presumed that the comm application would be common to the fleet. Hoping not to be cut off before contact could be initiated, Vyztram packed the message tightly on top of the carrier signal that was pointed toward the orb ship.
Unknowingly, Vyztram imitated Alex’s first contact with the Swei Swee aboard the dark travelers. The moment contact was established with the orb ship’s sophisticated control device, there followed the AI’s stream of simple graphics and sounds.
The message’s first part displayed single lines increasing numerically and accompanied by counting in the Elvian language. Then four arrows pointed in quadrant directions, and the message supplied the terms for left, right, up, and down.
Despite Vyztram’s calculation that communications would be swiftly truncated, the educational message continued to its end. Afterward, there was nothing to do but wait. In the meantime, the AI laid out myriad scenarios that could be followed depending on the response that was received.
Vyztram had determined that a common language need be established first. Communications about the Elvians purpose in the system was second, and third, the AI wanted to learn the strangers’ intentions.
Other thoughts occurred to Vyztram, and the AI noted a list of specific questions to be asked during the initial exchange. One of the primary inquiries was to understand how to formally address the leader. Respect for the individual’s power would be crucial to negotiations.
While Vyztram waited, other scenarios were considered about responses to aggressive maneuvers by the strangers’ fleet. The AI estimated the time and effort
necessary to replace the harvesting machinery and transports if the equipment had to be abandoned in a hurry. That was a distinct possibility, and Vyztram was dedicated to protecting the passengers of the Arcus, regardless of whether every citizen deserved it.
6: Core and Arches
<Contact,> Cordelia sent swiftly to Julien, Z, and Miranda.
Long ago, the SADEs had planned for such an event. Across the fleet, comm links, except for the Freedom’s, were severed, which isolated the ships, protecting the controllers from an intrusion. Cutting out the controllers protected the crews’ implants and the SADEs.
Service could be restored by the ships’ captains and pilots, when they received a signal from the Freedom. It would be communicated by rotating the city-ship. If, on the other hand, the Freedom rolled out its rail-mounted beam weapons, comm links wouldn’t be restored. Instead, the commands would operate independently to combat any aggression against the fleet.
Julien isolated implants within the city-ship.
The moment that Alex, Renée, and the admirals lost their implant comm links, they left their cabins and ran toward the bridge. They arrived to find Julien standing back and watching Cordelia, who was bracketed by Z and Miranda. They stood fixedly and focused on the forward bridge.
The humans gathered tightly around Julien, who said, “Contact was initiated by the host ship’s AI.” He’d said it with an element of pride. The SADEs had reached consensus that the encounter indicated an AI aboard the massive ship, and they’d been proven right.
“As planned, the fleet has been isolated,” Julien continued. “The AI’s contact has been passive, and Cordelia chose to let a message play. Miranda and Z are supporting her by providing database construction. They’re being taught a language.”
Julien smiled at Alex, and he added, “You might be interested to know that there is a high degree of similarity to our first-contact techniques that we designed for the dark travelers.”
“When the SADEs finish, have them reply with our language,” Alex said. “Let’s keep this reciprocal. No escalation on our part.”