Stephen Berry - The AI War

The commodore stood. "Medtech Q'Nil will be transferred to Devastator's crew. And you, R'Gal, are badly needed on that battleglobe to answer several million questions."

The commlink chirped.

"Yes?" said D'Trelna.

"Alpha Prime approaching," said K'Raoda. "K'Tran requests permission to come aboard."

"Granted. Escort him to my office."

"Watch out for him," said Guan-Sharick. "The mindslavers will turn on you the instant they can. They hate any reminder of what they were.''

D'Trelna nodded. "I know," he said, and left the room, R'Gal following.

"We sustained some heavy battle damage," said K'Tran. "It'll take time to repair."

He sat in the red armchair in front of D'Trelna's desk, neatly dressed in his old uniform, hands folded in his lap.

"And if their main fleet comes through now?" asked the commodore.

"We have scouts out by the portal-the Rift, as the AIs call it," said K'Tran. "If their main fleet comes through, we'll stand them off as long as we can, but"-he pointed at D'Trelna-"we can't do it alone. We need that monster you captured to be raiding their home worlds, diverting their strength. And we need the Confederation fleet. And, might I add, some assurance that our modest requests will be granted?"

D'Trelna nodded. "I'll do what I can to bring in the Confederation-the rest is up to R'Gal and Devastator.. As for your requests-you're very much committed now. Assuming the AIs transmitted battlespecs back home, the Fleet of the One isn't going to give you a unit citation when they get here."

"We can hide," shrugged the corsair.

D'Trelna smiled unpleasandy. "They'll find you, K'Tran. I'm afraid you're committed."

"We'll discuss this later," said K'Tran. "What about the recall device you captured?"

D'Trelna sighed, spreading his hands. "It doesn't work. N'Trol says it should, according to the schematics, but it doesn't. He'll continue studying it, but I suggest we not place any hope in ancient legends and mystical fleets."

"I see," said K'Tran after a moment. "Is the battleglobe ready to go?"

"Just finished repairs last watch," said the commodore, turning to glance out the armorglass to where the battleglobe hung, her shield restored, a constant stream of shuttles moving between her and the orbiting Implacable. "There were some AI holdouts, raiding from deep inside her, but with R'Gal's help, we got them all-I hope.

"The portal to Terra Two's still opened," continued D'Trelna. "There's a destroyer on station there, maintaining it with the device we recovered during our last set-to with you. Devastator will access the AIs universe using the device."

"And how do you propose to convince the destroyer crew of that?" said K'Tran.

D'Trelna shrugged. "R'Gal will be in command. He's wonderfully inventive-he'll think of something."

"And you?" said K'Tran.

"We'll be leaving for K'Ronar this watch. I'll submit myself to arrest, face trial and, with the Watchers' help, turn the Confederation against Combine T'Lan. We're paralyzed as long as that AI nest lives within us."

K'Tran rose, extending his hand. "See you in hell, Commodore."

D'Trelna shook the mindslave's hand. "Is there any chance you'll, well… ever leave Alpha PrimeV

All expression, all humanity vanished from K'Tran's face. "None," said a dry, familiar whisper. "Captain K'Tran will be with us always."

"Gods," whispered the commodore, staring into the empty blue pools of K'Tran's eyes.

Animation returned to K'Tran, like a light coming on. "Luck, D'Trelna," he smiled. Receiving no answer, K'Tran nodded, turned and left.

D'Trelna shuddered as the door hissed shut.

"And that's about it," said D'Trelna, picking up his wine glass. "We'll have messaged ahead, to friendly parties. They won't get away with blowing us up when we hit home space. There'll be lots of commercial vid coverage of our landing and my arrest. And when I stand in that court dock, looking into all those lenses, I'm going to speak loud and long."

The four of them sat in D'Trelna's private dining room with its long sweep of armorglass, backdropped by two worlds, one natural, the other not: D'Lin and Devastator. The remains of a tasty meal were scattered across the table.

"It's so fantastic," said Zahava as D'Trelna finished his wine. "Will anyone believe you?"

"They'll believe me," said L'Wrona, "testifying as both captain and margrave. And we have the ship's log, every scan neatly and unalterably recorded."

D'Trelna sighed. "I wish I were going with you," he said, looking at the Terrans. "The most daring thing anyone's done for centuries, and I have to sit it out."

"If it rums nasty on K'Ronar, J'Quel, you won't be sitting," said John, setting his napkin on the table. "And somehow, it always turns nasty."

The thought cheered the commodore. He refilled all their wine glasses.

"And the Trel Cache?" asked Zahava, lifting her glass. "Are you just going to leave it here?"

"For now," said L'Wrona. "After we settle with the AIs, a scientific expedition will be sent. The knowledge the Trel preserved could move us ahead centuries. Why, the secret of matter transport alone…"

"So why not extract it now and use it in the war?" said John.

"Two reasons," said D'Trelna. "One, it would take too long-this will all be over in a few months. And two, with the Combine AIs infecting our government and military, anything we did extract from that satellite might be used against us. No, H'Nar's right-we let it sit for now."

"And what about the other recall device?" said John. "The one mentioned by the Trel?"

"The Lost Citadel?" D'Trelna stared at his wine. "I suppose we have to see if it has any what? historical validity?" He looked at L'Wrona. "H'Nar, I think that's something you might do, while I'm awaiting trial."

The captain shook his head. "S'Yal and the Machine Wars were a long time ago, J'Quel. The records will be fragmented and inaccurate."

"Still," said the commodore, "find out what you can. But let's hope N'Trol gets the Combine's prototype working." He poured himself the last of the wine.

"What are you going to do about Guan-Sharick?" said Zahava.

"Guan-Sharick will be accompanying Devastator back to his, or her, home universe. Incognito."

"You know who he is," said L'Wrona, staring at the commodore.

D'Trelna nodded and sipped his wine.

"Not going to tell me, are you?" said the captain.

The commodore set down his glass, shaking his head. "No. Yes, I know," he said, holding up a hand as L'Wrona started to speak, "Guan-Sharick's a mass murderer and totally ruthless."

"And I don't believe it's human," said L'Wrona.

"It's never said it was," said D'Trelna. "It's merely implied it."

"I'm convinced it's on our side-for now, and I'll tell you, H'Nar"-he leaned forward-"there may be no victory with Guan-Sharick's help, but there'll be none without it."

"Victory," said L'Wrona, easing back in his chair. "I don't believe in it anymore, J'Quel. We're climbing an endless mountain-each time we reach the top, we find it's just another plateau."

"We take out the AIs, H'Nar," said D'Trelna, wagging a finger at the captain, "we've reached the peak. Victory."

"Let's hope we live to enjoy it," said John, finishing his wine.

"I'm going to miss them," said John. He and Zahava stood in Devastator's Operations center, watching the main screen with its image of Implacable. The battle damage was gone, and humans wearing the duty brown of the Confederation now manned the consoles.

"We'll see them again," said Zahava, putting an arm around his waist.

"Will we? I wonder."

D'Trelna's face appeared on a comm screen. "We're about to jump for home." He cleared his throat. "Luck to you all, and Gods ride with you."

There was a chorus of well wishing, then the comm screen flicked off.