Randolph Lalonde: Fragments

“We have a command code chip,” Jake said, pulling a small golden rectangular necklace out from under the collar of his armour. “It gives someone control over the Triton’s higher functions, but there’s no way to know what the codes actually are. Anyone can slip this chip into a command console and take control of the ship, unless someone who actually knows the encrypted passwords comes along and overrides it.”

“So someone from Sol Defence could just come on in and take control without that.”

“Yup,” Jason confirmed. “As far as I can tell the command pass is alphanumeric, anywhere between eight and one thousand twenty four characters and encoded to someone’s DNA. I doubt anyone has had this ship running at full efficiency since she was stolen. Even Lewis has tried to hack in, didn’t get past the first layer of the computer’s central processor security. It’s almost as bad as the Carthan’s network.”

“I’ve tried several times, and beyond grading the security quality of the various departments, I have no information to offer.”

“Don’t try to break in again, Lewis. Ever,” Jake told the artificial intelligence, looking up at the middle of the room.

“I was not detected.”

“That doesn’t matter. If their defence systems get a whiff of you, just enough to realize an intelligent AI is crawling around, you’ll bring the entire Carthan military down on us,” Ayan explained. “They’ve outlawed Artificial Intelligences completely.”

“You’ve also made the Holocaust Virus as part of your core program,” Jason added.

“So I can cure other aritificial intelligences and protect myself,” Lewis countered.

“That’s commendable, but if the Carthans see that code-“

“They’ll assume I was the initial carrier of the virus, and they would be partially correct. I did carry the virus to Pandem, after all.”

The room fell silent. Jake suspected he was the initial carrier, the time line was a match, but he didn’t want to know for certain. “Just don’t initiate contact with any military network, or any other system unless we order it, and don’t tell anyone else you delivered the virus to Pandem. We understand, you weren’t in control of yourself and you’ve corrected your programming. Others won’t.”

“Understood, sir.”

Jacob sighed, trying to put the lecture he wanted to give Lewis aside and went on. “So, could the Carthans get control of Triton as is?”

“I doubt they ever will. Chief Grady’s implanted a series of packets that will kill the organic circuitry and he’s got the reactors hard wired on a feedback loop,” Oz added.

“How do they activate?” Ayan asked, surprised.

“As soon as someone tries to bring Triton’s main systems online it all goes into motion. The reactors start overloading, and the command systems will begin to fail. He made sure it would take a close visual inspection to tell if there’s anything wrong.”

“All right, so, when someone tries to start her up, the reactors and main control systems will burn out. How long would it take to repair?” Jake asked. The thought of destroying the primary systems of the greatest ship he’d ever seen made him feel ill.

“The reactors would have to be rebuilt from scratch, same with the primary computer systems. The core is isolated though, so that’s a mercy.”

“So in dry dock it would take six months?”

“If they have a specialist who understands how the bioelectric systems work and can manage to grow replacement materials then it could take three with their facilities. Without a specialist they’d have to replace the computer systems ship wide.”

“Chances are they can get a specialist.”

“I’d say so.”

“Then let’s take things a step further,” Jake said darkly. All eyes were drawn to him. “Send a message to Sol Defence. Tell them we found their ship and the man who stole her.”

“You’re joking,” Laura burst.

Oz, Minh and Ayan started smiling. “That’s going to make things very interesting for the Carthans,” she said quietly.

It was obvious that Jason’s mind was busy at work. “I’m going to send a compressed version of the command logs since you captured her from Wheeler, Jake. The best way to avoid blowback from this is to make sure they know everything about us and what we’ve been doing with the Triton since you took possession.”

“I think Sol Defence will approve,” said Liam Grady from the entrance. “You won’t have their endorsement, but they won’t press charges against you for taking command of one of their ships. Especially since you weren’t responsible for her initial theft and you’ve rescued thousands of refugees, freed half as many slaves. We’re going to lose her though, and for good if my guess is right.”

Silence fell over the room for a long moment. “It was a dream,” Minh said finally. “A new day brings new opportunities.”