Plague Planet (The Wandering Engineer) (55 page)

“True,” Doctor Ivanov replied. He'd been looking forward to the
argument and the intervention of the AI had spiked it. That was a bit
disappointing, he'd looked forward to the distraction.

“Then if that is settled, gentlemen, I leave you to your work,”
Sprite said.

...*...*...*...*...

Once Nohar's blood was broken down, they set the antibodies up to
be induced to grow in a bioreactor and then turned to testing.

Ivanov's team worked on testing samples of Nohar's blood against
the isolated pathogens. They quickly identified what it worked against and what
it didn't. Ivanov ordered the samples to be copied as rapidly as possible, and
then distributed to the Neo population.

...*...*...*...*...

Respiratory infections spread throughout the various alien species
almost like wildfire, despite the masks and preventive measures. Each was
isolated, blood drawn, and checked. Sprite sensed a pattern and checked the
records. She informed Irons and Helen that it was a specific type of terror
weapon the Xeno's used and what will be coming up next. “The idea is to panic
the population and over run the medics with various diseases. The diseases come
in waves so as they get set to take care of one the next is already
incubating.”

“So we need to take out the nest. We need to kill the source.”

“Exactly. You were right about the EMP admiral. From what I've got
in the files it's some sort of nanite hive. It may even be tapped into the
media net monitoring our progress.”

“An AI? Nanite AI? Is that even possible?” Helen demanded.

Irons pursed his lips. “Yes. But not a smart AI. It's adaptive. So
we need to get ahead of it. Limit its intel and kill it.”

“It could spawn backup’s admiral. I've been sensing something in
the net that wasn't there before,” Sprite warned.

“Then come up with something. A screen. Firewalls. Inoculate the
firewalls with anti-virus software.”

“I'm working on that even as we speak,” Sprite reported.

“Good.”

...*...*...*...*...

“Okay, now it's getting a little too real,” Jerry said, shifting
about. He, like every other Neo was uncomfortable in the hazmat suits. They
itched, he couldn't scratch, and he was heartily tired of his own stink. But
what was he going to do? It wasn't worth his life to take a shower now.
Tempting, but no. He'd put up with it.

“It didn't seem real before because it was hitting rural areas.
The pathogens were hitting small villages, towns, mining sites, and isolated
farms. The population density was low. Now though...” Hank frowned, looking
around to the people moaning.

“Yeah.”

“I know it's scary. But we've got to stay focused..”

“Yeah,” Jerry chuffed. He was tired, but it felt odd and somehow
fitting to hear Hank of all people take charge like this.

...*...*...*...*...

We don't have the time to burn up getting to somewhere better. So
we set up a base here. I'll induct volunteers into the navy. We'll build
everything we need right here.”

“Volunteers?”

“I have a prohibition against making medical nanites. It's built
into my hardware. I can't build them for other people, but I can swear in
people into the navy who can. Doctors and nurses in other words.”

“And they can...”

“If they have the proper implants. Which take time.”

“Not necessarily admiral,” Sprite interjected. He turned to her
avatar as did the others. “What I am proposing is we use you to create their
implants. It won't be pretty but we can do it. Training them will be
difficult.”

“Fine.”

“I'll do it...”

“You'll need a lot more than one or two people. Even in my time
something like this was hard to contain and destroy. We'll need screening
equipment, all sorts of things,” the admiral mused. “Sprite...”

“A list. Understood. I'm working with Proteus on this.”

“Understood. Keep me informed.”

“Right admiral.”

...*...*...*...*...

Hank received reports of people hanging around the UV lamps
including Jerry. But also medics reported these same people were coming in with
complaints of sunburn, sunstroke, and damage to their eyes. Some of the eye
damage was significant, damage to corneas that couldn't easily be repaired.

Reluctantly he called Sprite. Sprite confirmed that the UV lights
can cause skin problems including cancer, but the risk was worth it. “The point
is to not stay under the lamps. Use the respirators, set them up around
patients and with things that need to be sterilized. Use them in entrances, air
ducts, air intakes, but don't just lay under them.”

“Oh.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah, can I get this data? Maybe in some useable form? Or another
lady like you?” Hank asked.

Sprite snorted. “You don't even begin to have the computing power
for an AI like me.”

“Are you saying you're too good for me?” Hank asked with a slight
smile.

Sprite surprised him with a laugh. He hadn't expected the AI to
have a sense of humor. “You could at least ask a lady out before you wanted her
to have kids Doctor McCoy,” she replied coyly. “I mean, fine wine, flowers...
what are people coming to these days?” she asked with mirth.

Hank surprised himself by chuckling in reply. He realized, despite
everything going around, they still needed to live, or the damn virus and its,
long dead creators had won.

...*...*...*...*...

Grimly the admiral turned to a new task, cremation. He ordered
furnaces to be set up to burn the remains of infected people. The police had
begun setting up tents outside the town to create refugee centers.  “Admiral,
your skin-suit would be effective as a bio-hazard suit right?” Defender asked
as he worked on parts for a crematorium furnace. He needed something that would
be extremely efficient yet cheap to make.

“Yes, but I'm here and it's there. Besides,” Irons frowned. “I
don't need it remember?” he asked.

“True.”

“You could hand it over to someone else. A doctor for instance,”
Sprite suggested. The admiral opened his mouth to reject it but she continued
on. “But of course it's in Hazard as you pointed out. Besides, it's geared for
space not this.” She had reported earlier that many of the Hazard medical staff
not in pressure suits had started showing signs of illness. It was only a
matter of time before they succumbed to the disease.

“True,” Irons said. “And yes it wouldn't be very effective.
Against the airborne pathogens yes, if the user was all suited. But are you
forgetting the lack of a right sleeve?” he asked, clearly amused.

“No, I think Defender did though.”

“I actually discounted that issue since as you pointed out,
Proteus and your shields are the best defense against the Xeno nanites.”

“Then why bring up the idea at all?” Sprite asked.

“Another layer of protection,” Irons replied and then his eyes
narrowed. “Or a subtle attempt at getting me to my shuttle where you can then
get me off world lieutenant?” he asked.

“No,” Defender stated, but his eyes smoldered a little more.

“Right,” Sprite drawled. She still hadn't forgiven the other AI
for what he had done to her on Antigua prime. “Sure...”

“Enough,” Irons said. “Case closed. I may get the suit if we have
the time and if we have a specific mission to perform in it. But right now I
don't have the time to burn to get it. I need to stay here,” he said,
indicating the bank of replicators making trays of parts. Their industry was
now a well-oiled machine, people loaded raw material into the molecular furnace
and microcomputers sent draw demands to each replicator as it requested
material. All as efficient as they could get. Really, the only thing slowing
things down now was the intermittent issues with the power and the time it took
for workers to take the trays of parts out, flip their contents into a waiting
bin, or onto another tray, then reload the tray and close the door.

There were quite a few dedicated replicators here now, including
ones for electronics. The sub-assemblies all went into a three meter cubed
assembly replicator that put the pieces together and then merged them or ran
wiring or other things too them. That was if they couldn't be assembled by
hand.

They were still stuck treating the symptoms, which was a losing
battle. He had considered Sprites ideas but was still concerned about their
implications, both in the near term and long term. The odds of getting it right
and not tripping something in his software or hers was also a strong danger
sign.

“Admiral, what about making a medical AI?” Defender asked, not to
be deterred.

“And how would we go about doing that?” Sprite asked. “We meaning
me of course. I'm a coder, I could make a dumb AI, but a doctor isn't created
by just slapping the medical encyclopedia into it and calling it finished you
know,” she said.

“Commander,” Irons sighed. “It's not a bad idea, but I don't know
how viable it is. Can you run a sim?”

“No,” Sprite said. “I'm not rejecting the idea out of hand, it's
just that we don't have the space. This net is tiny, even for me. No room.
Secondly, I'm not comfortable about the ethical considerations either.”

“We can take care of the electronics problem,” Irons replied. “But
I agree with the ethics quandary. The problem is time, commander.”

“And as I said, It's not that simple. I wish it was, but it's not.
Also, in order to build a military AI, I'd need more data, and access codes,
and I'd need to seriously think about it myself some more. It's paramount to
slavery.”

“And there we go with the ethical considerations again,” The
admiral sighed, shaking his head and then rubbing his brow in frustration.
Sprite wasn't going to let this go. They'd been having this conversation a lot
lately, especially after the Draco incident. He couldn't blame her.

“The AI would have medical keys though?” Irons asked.

“Yes. I think. Maybe.” Sprite said.

“Maybe. That's a lot of time and effort for a maybe. Keep it in
mind, but we'll move on. Next idea,” he said.

“When we come up with one, I'll let you know,” Sprite said. “But
for now, you need to get back over to the annex. The governor's representatives
are arriving.”

“Joy,” Irons replied. “Anything from them?”

“Did they apologize you mean? Not a word,” Sprite replied with a
shrug. “I'm not the aggrieved party so I didn't hear anything. But I for one,
wouldn't go holding my breath admiral.”

“Right,” Irons sighed, getting to his feet.

“Your advice on handling the whole we're playing vampires and we
want to suck your blood' thing?”

Sprite smirked. “They aren't going to say they're sorry. They're
politicians, so when didn't you realize they were vampires?” she asked.

“Right,” he grumbled. “I'll just see if I can scrounge up some
silver and a stake.”

...*...*...*...*...

Osiris paced in the meeting room, unable to settle down. His close
proximity to the hospital was giving him the willies, he like his boss wanted
to be anywhere but around sick people. He'd honestly considered quitting
several times but knew no one around could do what he did. If he did quit
things might very well fall apart. They all had their role to play it seemed.

He was also distinctly uncomfortable being in the same room as the
admiral. He regretted the impulsive action of the governor. The governor hadn't
rescinded the order and had demanded updates on the progress on that front.
Osiris now wondered about the man's sanity.

Now this. Solaximara was there as a member of the government. He
like a few other junior members of the government had stayed at their posts.
Osiris glanced at the red Neolion. He wasn't sure why, the lion should know by
now he had risen as far as he was going to. As a Neo he had hit the political ceiling.
If he tried to crack it, it would probably rain down on him and kill him and
anyone around him. Sometimes politics on Epsilon were played for keeps.

Of course that really wasn't all that necessary. To get above a
directorship, to say, the governor or lieutenant governor's mansion the Neo
would have to be elected. Since most of the population were Terran and Veraxin,
he wouldn't stand a chance against a well prepared opponent. Hell, even that
fat sow Hodges could beat him easily. Prejudices were still in force here.

“I was told there is something that can help us. Um, EMP? Whatever
that is? Can we get some?” Osiris asked, looking from the doctor to the
admiral.

“EMP, Electromagnetic Pulse. A short savage burst of radio energy
to destroy electronics. Utterly useless against a microorganism,” Sprite said
helpfully. There was barest the hint of disdain over having to explain
something that apparently she knew and took for granted.

“There's something in Rubicon, something Xeno and electronic. We
know that much. But the problem is the EMP won't help,” Irons replied. Irons
gnashed his teeth and then tried to patiently explain to Osiris and the other
nitwits who were arm chair quarterbacking that an EMP would kill nanites, but
not
a virus. Not anything biological.