The Commander (30 page)

“Are you testing me?” Carrie asked.

“I’d call it an opportunity,” Luke replied. “Good practice for you, and maybe a source of people for us. The people here aren’t advanced enough to become crew members and there’s too few of them. But 9580 is a bit more modern.”

Carrie nodded her understanding. “When do you want me back?”

“Quickly. For the rest of the day, get with your people and select your fleet. You can take fifteen warships. Keep your captains under strict control. While you’re gone, I’ll set up local training and self-defense operations. I’m not saying you have to hurry; do a good job. But don’t dawdle. If it doesn’t work out right away, don’t force it. Think of it as the start of establishing regular visits between 9580 and Bradley’s planet.”

# # #

A few weeks can make a big difference, Luke thought. He stood in the same encampment, but now it had a modern look of nascent industrialization. No doubt Earth-based conservationists would condemn his effort to transform Bradley’s planet into a center of chrome and glass. But Luke thought it was better than a lifeless surface scarred by craters.

The conservationists wouldn’t like the name either. Luke’s constant reference to Bradley’s planet had somehow been recorded formally as Bradley’s Planet. Luke saw it as representative of the inevitable bureaucracy that went with any large undertaking. Lindsey took it with good humor but insisted the native inhabitants be listed as the Soyuja, which meant
owners
in their own language.

In the meantime,
Lulubelle
’s engineers had created a mobile version of the large-scale replicator. The rectangular framework was mounted on gravity pads, and a lone operator sitting in a cab built atop one of the corners could float it to any location needed. With the push of a button a building would appear. Or, to be more accurate, with a button and a lot of prior architectural design and site engineering.

So far, in a neat grid of city blocks, they had produced barracks, an administrative center, a hospital, and a tactical command center. Hundreds of reconnaissance drones moved throughout the solar system providing continuous updates that were integrated into a three-dimensional hologram in the situation center, designated “the tank” by its users. Lindsey didn’t like the flat panel view screens used on
Lulubelle
’s bridge. He was used to seeing his world laid out on the ground in three dimensions, with little piles of rocks that denoted the location of battalions and brigades.

Luke had to agree that the tank gave a better visualization of the combat situation. He told George to put together the same thing on
Lulubelle
so he could try it out. With a little customization it might become the new standard for warships too.

Carrie arrived back in system after a week. She didn’t report with an unqualified success, but certainly the expectation of one. In a sign of good will, and with a promise to return soon, she left a ten-person team on J9580, which she formally designated planet Payapa, the local’s name for their world.

For several days, Carrie met with Bradley to strategize on how to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the two planets. Carrie suggested that one answer was to open up parts of Bradley’s Planet for expansion by the Payapians.

Lindsey didn’t like the idea. “And what will you do with the Soyujans? Put them in reservations and sell them alcohol?”

His question brought Carrie up short.

“Want them to perform little dances for the rich visitors?” Lindsey pressed.

Carrie pushed back. “All right, I’m sorry. You know I wasn’t thinking anything like that, but I do get your point. What is your idea then? I’m trying to come up with something that will help both of us.”

“We’re the wards for this planet,” Lindsey said firmly. “Not developers. I won’t have these people exploited.”

“Point taken. Can we move on?”

Lindsey backed off. “I don’t know what the answer is. I’ve been struggling with this issue. Native populations are never handled well. It would be too easy to fall into that trap here. Assimilate or isolate? I just don’t know.”

Carrie shrugged. “I don’t know either. But we don’t need to decide everything right this minute. I
would
like to get the process started. Over the long term, it’s going to help both planets if we can get trade going. The Payapians are peaceful, for sure, but they’re ready for something new. Their planet is limited. Lots of small oceans around a whole lot of flat mini-continents. They have nothing like the mountains here.”

Luke intervened. “Brad, I met with some of your Soyujans the other day. After talking with them for about thirty minutes, I was glad to get called away. I think they were about to negotiate a deal with me and I’m not even sure what I was offering.”

Lindsey laughed. “Yeah. These guys have merchant’s fever in their blood, don’t they?” He gave Carrie a wry look. “Let’s just set up a few meetings and see what develops. Maybe I’m worried about nothing after all. Could be my Soyujans aren’t the ones we need to be concerned for.”

Carrie was suddenly suspicious. “Do I need to worry that your people will take my people for a ride?”

# # #

“Commander, Captain Faulkner is entering orbit at this time.”

Luke was glad to get the message. Carrie had left for a second trip to Payapa a week ago after she and Lindsey finalized their strategy. They would start introductions between the two planets with a “get acquainted” visit and Carrie had gone to establish diplomatic protocols.

She was waiting in
Lulubelle
’s planning room, excited to fill Luke in. “The Payapa government voted to join your alliance in return for protection and technology transfer,” she said. “They were a bit hesitant but they’re also open to the idea of bilateral trade with the Soyujans. I’m not worried. Once they see these mountains, I think tourism will boom.”

“How will they get back and forth?” Luke asked. “I don’t want us turning into a transportation company.”

“We already have that ironed out. I had George redesign the basic
Ambrosia
model into two new variants; one for cargo and one for passenger transport. That thick, rounded design is very flexible. Both models are unarmed; I didn’t want a loose warship running around unsupervised.”

“Good call.”

“What’s been going on here?” Carrie asked.

“Brad is moving like gangbusters,” Luke said. “You won’t recognize the compound. It’s the new capital city. Or at least the start of one. He said the university is going up tomorrow.”

Carrie shook her head. “I still can’t get used to the speed that things happen around here. Can you imagine how long it would take to do on Earth what you’ve done in the last week?”

“I think about it a lot. What I haven’t figured out is why most of these planets are so peaceful. Up till now, I just accepted that combat was the natural order of things. It certainly is in nature; big fish eat little fish.”

Carrie didn’t have an answer. “I thought so too. But the Soyujans were not violent.”

“It’s a mystery, I guess.” Luke said. “This was a harsh world and yet Soyujans are not.”

Carrie shrugged. “I’m a criminal justice major. Guess I’m inclined toward a violent philosophy. To me, it’s supposed to be that way.”

George interrupted. “Commander, a message drone just arrived from Jigu with an urgent request from Ambassador Robertson.”

“Show us, please, George.”

The wall display lit up with a haggard-looking Tyler peering into the camera.

“Luke, sorry to bother you,” Tyler started. “I know you must be hip deep in other problems but I got myself into a fix here. In a nutshell, I sent an expedition to a nearby star system. Probes showed it was inhabited by a Ming Dynasty type of culture. They received us, treated us great, and sent back a delegation with their top general. Now that he’s here, I’ve lost control. The problem is
Toby
, my AI, has switched sides; says I should be cooperating with General Hwangje, a Genghis Khan type. If you can break free, I’d appreciate it. I’m including details with this report.”

Luke gave Carrie a look of surprise. “So much for nonviolence,” he said. “That’s unexpected. I thought Tyler could handle this kind of thing.”

“So did I. But you complained about
Toby
too. If the ambassador’s AI turned on him, that could explain it.”

“That’s true. George? I thought
Toby
was programmed to stay in line.”

“He was, Commander. I consider this matter extremely serious. In creating a higher level AI, variables are included in the programming to keep the personality from being monotonous. My archives contain rare cases where this resulted in unfortunate situations. Although it is very unusual, it can be corrected easily by any AI with a higher level.”

“So if we go back, you can fix him?” Luke asked.

“Rather than repair, I would simply replace the AI with a new core personality module. The old personality would be preserved for study by Nobility engineers to determine the cause. Effectively it would cease to exist.”

Luke nodded and turned to Carrie. “I guess we better head back and give Tyler a hand.”

Carrie was alarmed. “What about K18, sir?” she asked. “It’s the next one past Payapa. Our analysts predict that system is a high-probability target for the Bakkui. We’re already pushing the projected D-day for them. If we return to Jigu first, that’s a thirty- to forty-day slip at best. Our population estimates for K18 are a couple of billion people.”

Luke winced. “That’s right. That has to be our first priority.” Luke sat silently for several minutes considering the options. “Let’s do this,” he said. “You take
Lulubelle
on to K18. Give me a warship and I’ll go sort out Tyler and his problem child.”

“Commander,” George spoke up. “I cannot allow you to venture off on your own; especially in a warship. I would be forced to activate your fail-safe.”

Carrie’s face reflected surprise. “Failsafe? What’s that mean?”

Luke sighed in frustration and gave Carrie and quick rundown on the explosive stuck in his brain. When he saw her face, he realized he’d made a mistake.

Carrie was outraged at the concept. “Is that true, Commander? You really have a bomb in your head? That’s insane!” She gasped with sudden fear in her expression. “Do I have one too? Do all of us have that? How are we supposed to…”

Luke leaned back and squeezed his eyes shut in exasperation. This was not what he needed; another hysterical female over the bomb-in-the-head thing.
Losing
Annie had just about killed him. He couldn’t afford for Carrie to go off the deep end right now.

“Carrie!” he shouted. His sudden bark stopped her rant. “At ease. There aren’t any explosive devices in your body or anyone else’s. Understand?”

“Are you sure…” she started, not quite willing to be placated.

“Did you understand me, Captain?” Luke growled.

That brought her up short. “Yes, Commander. Loud and clear. I apologize for my outburst.”

“Confirm that for her George,” Luke ordered.

“Captain Faulkner, the Commander is correct. There are no hidden devices, malevolent or otherwise, associated with any implants of
Lulubelle
’s crew.”

“Then what about the Commander?” she persisted.

“The Commander’s medical history is a private matter, Captain Faulkner.”

“Let’s get back on track,” Luke said tiredly. “I can’t ignore Tyler, and we can’t wait on moving toward K18.”

Carrie backed away from the sensitive topic. “What should we do?”

Luke looked at the ceiling. “We made an exception before, didn’t we George?”

“That is true, Commander. But we were also clear that it was a one-time occurrence.”

“I understand. But that was to make a replica of your entire physical structure, an enormous undertaking as you pointed out at the time. A necessity considering
Lulubelle
’s size. Why can’t we make a smaller version? Just your core personality module, as you called it. Can’t you create a slimmed down version of your AI for a warship? We’ll use it just long enough to get to Jigu and come back. That would be in accordance with the long-term objectives of the Nobility.”

“So you are saying that you would maintain constant contact with the mini-me.”

Carrie burst out laughing but Luke glared at her and she quickly subsided. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “That was just funny when he said mini-me like—”

“I saw the movie,” Luke said sardonically, cutting off her feeble excuse. “Try to control yourself, young lady.” He turned back to the ceiling. “Yes, George. You and I can stay together the entire time and you could take care of the idiot AI on Jigu. It’s better than losing a couple billion people that could otherwise be working toward the Nobility’s goals.”

The silence in the planning room lengthened. Luke wondered what was going on in George’s electronic brain while he considered the ramifications. Finally, “That would be acceptable, Commander. I shall start production of the new warship immediately.”