Terra Dawning (16 page)

"I have been able to detect it, Ranger. I will not have the encryption protocols for another two hours and twenty-one minutes," Mother replied.

"Wait, did you just say you will be able to hack into their comms?" Jance asked.

"Affirmative, Commander. The protocols are not that difficult; in point of fact, the pattern currently being used appears to be a number of years older than what was used at this base just before the final evacuation," Mather explained.

"Mother, you said earlier that the Duke had used an old encrypted email program to send his orders to the pirates, didn't you?" Ben asked.

"I did, which caused me to take a second look at the encryption patterns currently in use. They are all based on Pre-Fall, human communications encryptions logarithms," Mother replied. "Once I have identified the base key, I'll have full access to all encrypted communications on the planet."

"Amazing, and Duke Tammerain is regarded as one of the leading data encryption experts in the Empire! That was why we originally doubted your claim as having decoded messages from him," Hyroan replied.

"We actually went one better than that, Ranger Hyroan!" Jorga replied as she rejoined them. "Mother, please play the recorded message I sent you when I went to the pirate base."

"Hello? How can I help you sir?" a young man could be heard to clearly ask.

A distorted voice replied. "Who are you? I want to speak to Elrond! Go get your leader, now!"

"I'm sorry sir, Captain Elrond is not available right now; he's out on a business trip," the young man replied.

"I don't care where he is you little Juuntic! Put me through to him right now, or I'll eat your liver for my breakfast! Do you understand me?" the voice replied.

"I have no idea who the hell you are sir, but threatening me won't help you. If you have nothing else to say, we can terminate this contact right now; I have my own duties to take care of. Getting insulted by you is not one of them!" the young man countered.

The next voice that spoke was not distorted. "This is Duke Tammerain of Cassius you stupid fucking primate! Authorization code hasspen-creta-zero-break-gorth-nine-nine. Now put me through to Elrond! Now!"

When the young man replied he sounded suitably frightened. "M... My Lord! Forgive me! I had no way of knowing! B-but I'm afraid I still can't put you through to him, he's out preparing a trap for the Rangers as you commanded, Sire! W-we don't expect them back for another two days!"

"Listen closely human; I don’t care how you do it, but you better get a message to him telling him the Rangers will be leaving the planet mid-day tomorrow! If he sylphss' this up, I'll have the lot of you as the main course at the next festival! Do you understand me?" the Duke replied, still without the distortion.

"Code verified, voice tonal and pattern check matched. That is the Duke speaking, Commander," T’Gree said softly.

"Yes, M'Lord! We will get the message to him right away!" the young man said.

"Good, now delete this message immediately!" the Duke ordered followed by the soft tone indicating a disconnection.

Jance smiled at Jorga. "I have no idea how under the seven suns you managed to pull that off, but that is absolute proof that the Duke of Cassius ordered the deaths of a Ranger team. While that is bad enough for us to arrest him, it doesn't prove he is trying to over-throw the empire. We're going to need much more evidence than one small facility full of troops on a planet that has been having pirate troubles."

"Captain Elrond suggested someone investigate the Vega nebula. He said it's one of the only places a fleet of ships the size of what he'd need could hide. We have no way of doing that ourselves, or we would have," Ben offered. "But he would need more than five thousand troops here if he planned on taking the Capitol."

"That is why I asked AI Mother if she could monitor the Duke's communications to the false sea shack. Perhaps she could search for other locations based on the communications patterns to and from the Argassi Comm Center,"

"Prime Council, Commander, Rangers, the Ducal troops are departing. The floaters on the surface are dropping large objects into the water over the base," Mother reported. The image in the hologram changed to that of the surface again. The four floaters could be seen pushing their cargos off the rear of each big ship.

"That cannot be good," Sc'ellese said softly.

"Indeed, Ranger. I'd bet that those crates are full of an explosive of some kind," Jorga said

"That would be a fool's wager, Vice Council," Hyroan replied.

As they watched, several of the large crates could be seen falling and coming to a rest on the bottom very near to the old base. Some of them actually came to rest on top of it. But none of them detonated. The watchers looked on in silence as all the crates from the surface came to rest on the bottom. On the surface, the now empty floaters engaged their drive systems and turned back for port.

"Please tell me none of those crates are radioactive, Mother," Ben said.

"I cannot, Prime. However, I would not believe a nuclear weapon would be used here. There are too many crates; if it were a nuclear explosive, there would have been only one. Still, the number of crates is clearly over-kill on the part of the Duke. I would recommend sealing the base against the pressure wave," Mother reported.

Ben nodded quickly. "Do it, and tell everyone to hang on to something."

"How far away is that place?" Sc'ellese asked.

"A hundred and fifty klicks shallower, and almost two sectors away," Ben replied. "But we're going to feel it, anyway. Mother, if you can safely recover the drone, bring it back."

Just as she was about to reply the image being sent from the probe disappeared. "Prime Council, the Drone has been destroyed." Just then the base began to shake and a low rumble could be heard. Both quickly faded.

“Damage report?" Ben asked.

"Transit tunnel four-three-three is reporting moderate damage along a three mile section closest to the explosion. Traffic has been rerouted around the damaged section. Councilor Carlyle will be delayed by three hours. Transit Authority is already dispatching repair drones to the affected areas. Minimal damage to some personal effects in the closest pods. No injuries, no further damage to report," Mother replied.

Ben nodded. "Good, please inform Captain Elrond that his former base has been destroyed.

Deirdre walked up to him then. "Excuse me, Ben, folks are starting to panic. How much can I tell them?"

"Tell them the truth, and that no one was harmed. Also reassure them that we remain undiscovered and all our people are safe," Ben replied. "Let them know I'll talk to everyone, in person, as soon we have more information. Just telling them that the Rangers are here and we've made friends will most likely freak them out."

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T
erran Marine Base Alpha

Computer Section - AI Vault

25 Apr. 10266 CE (AD)

Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

Earth, Sol System

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H
yroan regarded his young guide with some amusement. Vice Council Bedouin had taken him aside and apologized in advance for her little sister. She explained that the girl was the absolute best guide she could give him; she was very young, very curious, and very talkative.

Young Hanna introduced herself to him very politely, but he could see that she was indeed a very young girl. As soon as they got out of hearing range of the her sister, she started talking and hadn't slowed down at all during the forty-five minute journey to the AI Vault. Hyroan, however, learned a great deal from her. She was only fourteen local years old and idolized her older sister. She and Jorga were the children of Constable William and Doctor Hope Lowe.

Hyroan had to stop her so he could find out what a Constable was, but she explained quickly and got right back to talking. Hyroan didn't really mind, he had a younger sister as well, and she tended to jabber on as well. He understood that she was most likely very nervous and was compensating for that by talking. He just hoped she would continue to remember to breathe.

Hyroan also discovered that the survivors of old earth were currently very concerned by the events taking place on the surface and had been very leery of their Council's plan to make contact. But all of them agreed that events had given them little choice. Through the little chatterbox, Hyroan learned a great deal about these humans from the past and how brave they had to have been to undertake such a journey as they had. A blind jump into the future with no idea what the world would be like once they emerged.

Which is what young Hanna was jabbering about at the moment. He had gotten used to her voice so he was rather surprised when she abruptly stopped talking.

"My apologies, Hanna, I was sort of daydreaming about what you were talking about and didn't actually hear what you said," Hyroan admitted.

She smiled and blushed slightly. "That's okay sir, I know I talk way too much. I'm just really happy you listened as long as you have. But, we're here, the AI Vault. Do you want me to stick around, or do you think you can find your way back?"

"Miss Hanna, if you would, could you please remain with Ranger Hyroan in the event he needs something or further information?" Mother asked.

"Sure I can, I was just trying to make sure I hadn't driven him bonkers with all my talking, Mother," Hanna replied.

"I don't mind really. You remind me of my own little sister back on Hyclarion. I haven't gotten to see her very much for the last couple of years and I miss her. Besides, you've helped me to understand the people here a lot better." Hyroan replied.

"When did I do that?" Hanna asked.

"Just now, while you led me here. By talking about your life here and what it was like before, I have a better understanding of your culture and the society here. In a lot of ways it's different than mine, but there is a lot we have in common as well," Hyroan replied. "It helps to know that I'm working to help good people. That's why I became a Ranger."

"Really, was it hard to become a Ranger?" Hanna asked.

Hyroan nodded. "It was pretty hard, but I think it’s been worth it. I know my parents are proud of me and feel good about the work I do most of the time. It can be pretty dangerous, but knowing I'm protecting folks and making our world a better place has made it very fulfilling to me."

"Jorga said you couldn’t take your helmet off because you can't breathe our atmosphere. Which is too bad 'cause I was going to get us some lunch," Hanna replied.

"I can breathe it for very short periods, plus my enhancements will help make sure I don't suffer any damage from it," Hyroan replied. "But I don't think you have any of the food I'm used to."

Hanna nodded, but brightened up. "I could get us some Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches! Everyone can eat those!"

"I'm afraid the Ranger is correct, Miss Hanna. He might not be able to eat that," Mother said kindly. "Doctor Lyam would have to check to make sure he could eat it first."

"I appreciate the offer though, Hanna. Thank you!" Hyroan said, making Hanna smile again. "Now, I really should get busy or the Commander will be upset with me."

Mother opened her vault door for the Ranger and his guide. "My systems have been laid out in sections, Ranger Hyroan. Where would you like to start?"

"Primary and secondary logic centers please. Without knowing how that works, none of the rest would make much sense to me," Hyroan replied.

"Ranger Hyroan, with your permission, I would like to take this opportunity to test a theory I have about your young guide while you evaluate my systems?"  Mother asked.

"As long as I can still do the evaluation, I don't see the problem, Mother," Hyroan replied.

"Thank you, Ranger. Hanna, please take a seat at the main terminal. I will need you to log in using your name and password," Mother instructed.

At first, Hyroan was curious as to what Mother had in mind for the young woman. But as her instructions to the young woman became clear to him, as well as the young girl's interest being captured, it became obvious what Mother was doing; she was training the young girl.

On a separate terminal, out of Hanna's sight, mother posted a message to him. "Ranger Hyroan, at present, there is no one in our population capable of repairing me if I have a major malfunction. After observing young Hanna for the last couple of weeks, I believe her to have the right... personality for the position. She certainly has the aptitude as you can see. Her instruction will most likely take longer than your evaluation will take, however, during this initial session, I will instruct her on the nature and structure of my primary and secondary logic centers. If you have any questions or would like to see something different, please simply ask or enter the question on this terminal and I will answer you. Is this acceptable?"

Speaking quietly so as not to disturb Hanna, Hyroan replied. "Perfectly acceptable, Mother. If I may assist in her training during our stay here, please feel free to call on me."

"I had actually planned on asking you to speak to her about the ethics and discretion required of this position. I have reviewed these requirements via the Imperial InfoNet and find them to be most satisfactory. With your commander's permission, and in so far as it does not impeded or influence your investigations, your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated," Mother replied.

"I would be honored. However, I would also have to speak to the young woman's guardians before I begin," Hyroan explained.

"If you would like I can make an appointment for you with them for later this evening or perhaps tomorrow?" Mother asked. "I hope you understand my reasoning for the urgency I am assigning this project."

"Yes I do, currently, I am the only person on the planet capable of repairing you if you were to take damage or experience a hardware malfunction. Given this... colony's dependence upon you, such a malfunction could have catastrophic results," Hyroan explained.

"You are correct, Ranger Hyroan. There are many redundancies built into my systems, as well as the existence of other AI that share my design on the planet. However, one of my core instructions requires me to ensure my own survival as long as such does not endanger human life or injury. Because of this core directive, a very high priority has been assigned to this project while I evaluated the populations for potential candidates. Indeed all my sister AI are doing so as well," Mother explained.