Limitless: Book IV: The Settlement Chronicals Page 3

  The ‘kill switch’ wasn’t an ideal solution, since if activated it would require the mission to be aborted, hence the insurance policy of two of the crew possessing the proper code in case of the untimely death or disability of a single person. While once the machine was forced into a ‘sleep’ mode key functions were undertaken by a less functional back up system, it couldn’t be reset without dismantling the computer itself, and both the crew and the back up computer lacked the ability to perform such a task. They also lacked the ability to perform advanced tasks such as the genetic splicing necessary for adaptation of life forms to life on the planet.

  Activating the kill switch was not a step taken lightly, in fact there was no record of it ever being invoked on a starship. Still, it was the ace in the hole that could tame the ‘beast’ if it overreached. All advanced machines of the colonies were required to be so equipped, and more than once it had been proven necessary; as a machine gained intelligence from experience, and learned its own limits, like with any child boundaries were tested.

  For the same reason robots and androids, computers in their own right, while not containing limitations such as kill switches, were tightly limited in memory capacity, and providing them with emotions strictly forbidden.

  Thus, humans like Arnold were required or the on-board intelligence would cease to function.

  As with all grown for a life in space, Arnold was a small, spare man well under one and one half meters in height; optimized to require a low caloric intake and reduced oxygen. When he reached the end of his useful life an identical replacement, Arnold Beck II, would be grown in the nutrient tanks, and once Arnold Beck I’s memories and brain patterns had been transferred to the new model he would be retired; restricted to segregated quarters in a distant part of the starship to avoid the ‘unsettling’ experience of two identical persons making contact.

  While many of the crew looked forward to their retirement, Arnold did not. When a predetermined period had passed a sperm and egg would be genetically modified to exact specifications and then combined; where when the cells had begun to multiply they would again be genetically modified to correct any errors in the transcription. While this two stage process was unnecessary back on the Sirius home worlds it was found to be more dependable here in space where the central intelligence of the guiding computer was less advanced.

  After three years of development of the new ‘Arnold’ in the nutrient tanks followed by months of memory transfer, Arnold II would emerge ready to take over. Then, if the retirement age for Arnold I was still years off, the newly grown and ‘educated’ Arnold would be placed in stasis as an emergency backup.

  However, if Arnold I had reached the mandatory retirement age, he would be retired to live out his normal life. Only then would he be able to lead a life of leisure, or retreat into whatever virtual world he chose to inhabit for his remaining years of life.

  This is where Arnold I differed from so many of his crewmates. He dreaded the thought of the weeks in a chair, anodes strapped to his head, while his memories and emotions were transferred to his replacement in the adjoining chair. The process was lengthy since the neurons of the new Arnold required time to be rearranged, synapses modified, or new connections grown to adapt to the transferred patterns. In addition, he saw little attraction to a world that he knew deep down wasn’t real. Sometimes he though he would take the option of termination.

  As for those who followed Arnold and the crew on the way to Bellatrix? Their life would be spent in space, even after their arrival. Their slender, light frames would be deformed by the heavy gravity of the target planet, and the inhospitable atmosphere would prove their undoing. If the humans adapted for life on the planet were to stand next to Arnold they would appear to many to be a different species.

  Well, that was decades in the future; not something to worry about now.

  Over the past few weeks new data was being returned from probes sent to the target planet long ago to settle any unknowns about the planet’s characteristics. They already knew much from earlier colonization efforts; its heavy gravity coupled with an atmosphere low in oxygen and containing trace amounts of gases often poisonous to humans. The recoding for those to form the colony would reflect those conditions, modeling them for adaptation to their new home. But perhaps the new probes would give some hint as to why the last colonization attempt, initially successful, had failed in the end.

  In addition to engineering the new colonists for the harsh environment, other characteristics would have to be engineered as well. Some would have their reasoning and mental powers enhanced to serve as scientists and colony leaders, others for physical tasks, the ‘grunts’, others with the reflexes and quick thinking required for military or police work. All would be optimized for whatever role assigned. Only when near their final destination would new design criteria be coded into the gene-splicing equipment for the new embryos grown on the ship.

  Adapting the human species to the new, harsh environment they expected was not the only task to be completed prior to landfall; plant and animal life brought from Sirius would also need adaptation. Even now the on-board computer systems were active designing the new genetic code for everything from bacteria to farm animals. That task was enormous considering the many thousands of types of plant and animal life required for a balanced ecosystem.

  However, this first adaptation of colonists and flora and fauna was a one shot deal; once the first generation set foot, fin, or root on the new planet natural reproduction was their only way to ensure their future; true for humans as well as other creatures all the way down to bacteria.

  This was not the first attempt to colonize one of the Bellatrix worlds; it had been ongoing since early in the existence of their motherworld in the Sirius system. In fact, the second attempt had been successful with its fledgling civilization existing for over a century until it had disappeared for some unknown reason. This was now the third major effort, but was far better prepared to settle and hold the planet than earlier colonization efforts had been.

  Since the reason for loss of the previous colony was unknown, the starship Bellatrix III was provided with the most advanced weapons available and the number of nutrient tanks to grow the first set of colonists far larger than before.

  Still, a concern was the unknown as to why the last colonization of Bellatrix had failed after its initial success. Since it was entirely possible it had been due to an alien invasion special steps had been taken, steps not part of a normal mission. A pattern had been developed for the genetic modifications needed if ‘supersoldiers’ were required to be grown to oppose any alien presence. This was an insurance policy only to be implemented if necessary.

  But now Bellatrix was far from Arnold’s mind, and all issues and problems related to colonizing its planets set aside. Now his problem was the new orders altering the original plans.

  It had been only months since they received the coded message sent via the quantum coupling link instructing them to abort their mission. Luckily the mission had only been underway for a few years, and Bellatrix in the Orion System, their ultimate destination, was still well over 200 light years away. Had it not been for the nearness of the large mass of the small PL2018 black dwarf it could have taken months and required an enormous waste of fuel to turn the huge mass of their spaceship for the return, but the nearness of PL2018 to their planned route had allowed them to drop into its gravity well with only a small course adjustment. Now the next step, and the most dangerous, required a drop deeper into PL2018’s gravity to precisely make the slingshot course change for the new coordinates they had just received. A miscalculation could result either in vaporization of the starship as the star’s gravity gained control, or require an additional fuel and time consuming adjustment later.

  When they first received the message to change course facts had been few; there was only speculation among the crew as to why their mission to Bellatrix was being scrubbed, and guesses as to what their next orders would be o
ccupied the small crew for hours on end. In fact it was only through the magic of quantum entanglement that the order to abort the mission had been received so soon, and at best it could handle short ‘coded’ messages that had been prearranged prior to leaving Sirius. While the Torgai mind-net could also have been used to relay the information, that would not have constituted an ‘official’ order; for that more secure systems were required, and any Torgai with the ability to mind-net could tap in to mind-net communications.

  Now however the follow-up messages with more detail were finally coming in through normal light-speed communication, retransmitted to the memory circuits of the ship’s commander. Much slower at the speed of light, but at least larger messages could be received.

  Arnold, actually Captain Arnold Beck I, commander of this first stage of the mission, was deep in thought as details came in clarifying the reason for the order to return and the specific coordinates of a rendezvous point. A military campaign was planned, and while the earlier messages contained only enough information to allow the beginning of the change of course, the new message, in addition to the coordinates of the rendezvous point, contained detail including the date for the rendezvous and some of the steps needed to prepare for the new mission.

  Arnold could only shake his head. If that was really the location only Earth could be the target. But why? Why would they recall such an important mission after it was underway? And why include in the order implementation of the ‘supersoldier’ modification for all suitable embryos, and plan for the same step for the frozen eggs and sperm? The danger must be dire.

  Well he would learn more soon. The first messages providing the orders stated other messages would follow with more information on further steps to take in preparation, including the plans and blueprints for reprogramming the on-board factories to production of weapons and other military equipment.

  If the instructions included mechanical enhancement of the embryos subsequent to their growth in the tanks it could take considerable new design work. He suspected it would; well, there was plenty of time for all that. Even now the parameters of the rotating chambers where the embryos would be grown and the adults live were being changed to reflect the gravity and other conditions existing on Earth.

  In any case, he himself wouldn’t be involved in the campaign, whatever it was. It would take at least 30 years to reach the rendezvous coordinates, and by then he should have been replaced by Arnold II. Of course, even in retirement he would be allowed access to information on events if he chose.

  Arnold got up from his desk and checked his uniform in the mirror. Time for the evening get together with the others, although this evening could prove to be more interesting than usual. Looking at himself in the mirror was like looking at any of the other crewmembers, at least the male ones. All were nearly identical in their physical appearance, with their small spare frames and large, hairless heads featuring large intelligent eyes. In fact, with some additional training all could be suitable substitutes for the job assignments of any of the others.

  All the crew knew what was in the messages received, at least most of it, since all were bound by brain implants allowing thought exchange and Arnold had transmitted a summary of the messages to the full crew with only a few edits. While this wasn’t true telepathy, only a crude substitute with distance limited to the confines of the ship, or perhaps a little beyond, still it served a useful function. Nothing like the sophisticated mind-links all Torgai shared; links capable of reaching for light years.

  As with all starships, in addition to the human crew Torgai were included as well, but they lived a life different from that of the crew.

  The Torgai lived in their own worlds, their thoughts their own and not shared with the humans unless asked, as the human’s thoughts were not shared with them. Still, both species had grown so close that separating them was inconceivable. Even now, if human colonies had been within a dozen light years or so, the Torgai on board could reach out to the Torgai of those colonies. In fact, the Torgai on board probably knew more of the reasons for the call-back than the starship captain.

  Arnold opened the door and started down the long corridor toward the common room at a brisk walk. He could have chosen to use a levitator and gotten there sooner, but he found walking a pleasant exercise. Reaching the open entrance to the common room he found most of the crew, and all the Torgai, already gathered.

  Stopping in the entrance to survey the room Arnold saw Debbie Klein, the chief of navigation, seated at the far end, the vacant lounge chair next obviously reserved for Arnold. The crew was evenly divided between the sexes, and while all were sterile, as policy required for space ship crews, he and Debbie had partnered up early in the mission. Arnold walked over and eased himself into the chair, Debbie nodding with a smile as she slid a filled glass toward him.

  Around the room most of the crew were involved in serious conversation, while the Torgai mostly were aloof, standing as was usual. Among them was Holdor, the clan father of the on-board Torgai. Tall and lean at nearly three meters in height, his fur streaked with gray, he was flanked by his son who was nearly as tall as Holdor. What was in the mind of a Torgai was always difficult to determine; their snouted fox-like face lacking expression.

  Catching the eye of Holdor, Arnold motioned for him to join them. While he hadn’t asked before, now appeared to be the time to obtain any additional information available to the Torgai. Holdor responded by breaking away from his group and slowly walking across the room and taking a crouched position in front of Arnold and Debbie, even then having to look down to catch Arnold’s eyes. Nearly double the height of the crewmembers, the Torgai had always resisted the genetic modifications to reduce their size for space journeys such as this. But the Torgai nearly always knew more of what was going on in the galaxy, picking up a tendril of the dream-net whenever they passed in range of an existing colony. In the present case they were still within mind link range of Sirius and probably knew much more about the situation causing the recall.

  Not that they kept the information they obtained secret, they simply said nothing unless asked. This time Holdor didn’t have to be asked. Arnold only had to look at him and Holdor understood what was on his mind.

  “Yes, the target is Earth,” not wasting words, “they have allowed their machines to get out of control, and now all are a part of one overall intelligence they call Carl; and while this ‘Carl’ tried in the past and failed to enter the Sirius networks, now he has tried again.”

  While Arnold knew all that, except that Carl had repeated his previous attempt to infect the colony networks, he waited while Holder passed his information on in the organized fashion of the Torgai mind.

  Holder continued, “all colonies within 50 light years of Earth have been notified to gather their fleets and join to settle the ‘Carl’ issue once and for all.”

  “Yes, but we’ve known of Carl for centuries, and easily stopped his earlier probing. Why does it bother us now?” Arnold responded. “Earth is the past and has little influence anymore. Only one more reason for the rules we follow.”

  Holdor looked at Arnold a moment before responding, “yes, that is true.”

  Then, adding, “but Carl has apparently misinterpreted his prime directive of ‘serving the human race’ and reduced nearly all humans on Earth to a life in their own virtual worlds without a will of their own. Now he wants more. Again Carl has been reaching out, trying to take control and assimilate the intelligent machines on Sirius and Alpha Centauri, but he is much more powerful now, and there is a fear he cannot be stopped.”

  “It has been decided that Carl must be destroyed now, before his power grows, and the only way to make that happen is to invade Earth and destroy all the intelligent machines; all have been assimilated by Carl. If even one is left is place, the threat of Carl remains.”

  Arnold thought for a moment, then nodded his head. “The message said the Alpha Centauri and Sirius fleets would be there when we arrived, which means t
hey may rendezvous as much as a decade before we can possibly be there. I suppose we were the only starship close enough to provide support, and to scrub our mission after the years of preparation and expense means they are really worried.”

  Debbie nodded, “and support from any of the other colonies would be much later. In fact, I’m not sure many are close enough to be of help.”

  Then, “but I doubt anything any of them have could equal what the Bellatrix brings to the party; both our weapons and the ability to provide a stream of super-soldiers from the tanks.”

  CHAPTER 3: Calm Before the Storm

  As soon as the colonial fleet entered orbit it immediately began a detailed mapping of the planet below, and the orbiting satellites as well. In addition to the installations on the planet’s surface what appeared to be large industrial satellites, plus a large number of other satellites both large and small, orbited the planet, many appearing to be residential in nature. They had early noted probing from the planet below and from some of the satellites as well, just as they were doing of the satellites and the planet, but even that had stopped. As if they were no longer of interest.

  What they found was disturbing; some satellites were heavily armed with weapons at least equivalent to their own and protected by powerful force fields. The situation on the surface was much the same; while there was little sign of commercial activity there were numerous installations that appeared to be military. If they were opposed it was clear this campaign would not be a ‘walkover’. Still, nothing other that the probing when their ships first began to arrive showed the inhabitants were even aware of their presence.

  The sun reflected off the sides of the fleet flagship Hudson Bay, several other ships mere miles away. In the distance one of the orbiting residential satellites matched their speed, appearing stationary. The long voyage from Sirius had ended months earlier, and the lack of acknowledgment of their presence from the planet below, or from the satellite cities, was frustrating. Normal commerce continued between the planet and the satellites, and between satellites, without a pause.