The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) (25 page)

                                       
CHAPTER TEN

30 April 2018 07:50 hours

Sedna Sol System

Jennings looked at the report in his hands. He spent the last hour reading it and then discussing its contents with his officers and with Major Ellis and Colonel Stefanovski. Both he and the two soldiers had smiles on their faces. The reason for that were the two smaller cruisers. The huge battleship
was barely operational. It had massive damages to its hull structure, its bow was broken and the hyper engines were damaged beyond repair. Its sub light engines could operate at fifty percent and its shields power was at ten percent. He knew that it would take massive work for the ship to be operational again. But the two smaller ships although they had damages as well were in a far better shape. Their shields and hull also had damages but the damages were almost superficial. Their shields were at fifty percent. And their armor was well preserved. The rest of the fleet was in a different condition. The supply ships were in solid condition and the same could be said about the mining ships and the two repair ships. Besides those ships among the ones in best condition were the four colony ships. They were the largest ones in the entire fleet and combined with the additional armor and weapon systems among the most powerful ones as well.

The civilian ships were in bad shape. Most of them were damaged in the battles and with time those damages spread. None of them had the shield and armor or the strong hull structure that the military ships had. He knew that only about twenty maybe thirty percent could be repaired. But as Anaya said the rest had parts that could be used in the short term.

He also remembered the other report on the files he was about to send. In them was everything that Anaya knew of their enemy up to the moment of their last contact. He knew that although it was twelve thousand years out of date the military will find useful things in it.

He raised his head as he heard the footsteps that signaled the arrival of the two shuttle pilots. He knew that their presence would be required for the evaluation of the shuttles and the space fighters they saw in the hangar. They saluted as they entered on the bridge. He smiled as he noticed their reaction to Anaya and the bridge. It was their first time here.

He knew that Anaya sent a notification to EFN requesting the presence of both Admiral Levin and General Taylor. He wondered how they reacted when the message said that they will make a video call. The answer was that the call will have to go through NASA. That was five hours ago. He looked at the watch.

It was 8 am in Florida. It was time. He turned toward the hologram of the ships AI.

“Anaya are you sure that the Demetrion will be able to make the trip?”

“I’m quite sure commander. The ship has its quirks just the same as every ship in this fleet does but it won’t hamper its journey to Earth and back. And besides we will need those parts and the people if we are to use this fleet.”

He scratched his head ant thought for a second. Then he raised his head and looked at the AI.

“Ok then. Make the call Anaya.”

“Yes sir.”

Few seconds later he could see the faces of several admirals and generals and several scientists as well. He didn’t know how she was able to get a direct link from there but he didn’t care. He was aware of the advantages. So when he saw the surprised faces of everyone at Cape Carnival he just smiled.

“Good evening sirs.”

To their credit they recovered from the shock quickly.

“Good evening captain.”

Admiral Levin and after him general Taylor stepped forward.

“You requested our presence here. If this technology is what we think it is than I guess you found something there. Something we can use.”

Jennings smiled. His smile seemed to relax everyone on the other side, and as the rest of the people on the bridge smiled as well, smiles started appearing on the other side as well.

“You might say that sir. You might say that, and then think of more.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Jennings inhaled.

“Before I begin I would like you to meet someone.”

Before they could respond he called her.

“Anaya you may come out now.”

On those words a blue shimmering light appeared by his left side. A moment later he AI appeared. As she came in to the view he could see the gasps on the video from everyone.

“Gentlemen I would like to introduce Anaya Argos of Alteran. She is the AI of the Hyperion class battleship Argos.”

The AI smiled and simply said:

“Hi…”

“She looks like us. She looks human.”

“That will be explained in the report that we are sending you now. That report contains all the information’s about this fleet, its capability, and about our enemy at least everything she has till about twelve thousand years ago. That was the time when her creators arrived on Earth in order to hide from them. And sir, she looks human because her creators and the builders of this fleet were humans.”

He could see the stunned reactions off everyone. Both the admirals and the generals looked at him with faces that showed disbelief.

“Let me put this straight captain. You are saying that the builders of that fleet, a fleet that arrived here twelve thousand years ago were humans.”

Jennings stood from the commander’s chair and looked at his commanding officer on the other side. Levin looked back.

“Yes admiral. And I have thousands of bodies in this ship and on the others that will confirm that. It can also be confirmed by the autopsy report of doctors Dubois and Heller, and the reports from all members of this mission.”

“That will open up a lot of questions commander, questions about which we don’t have time.”

Before Jennings could reply a younger officer stepped forward. Jennings didn’t recognize him.

“You said that the report holds information about our enemies? Are you saying that the Dacarians were a space faring civilization at the time?”

His question brought silence. It was obvious from the expressions of everyone that they could very well understand its meaning. The few smiles disappeared fast. The faces of everyone especially the scientists, fell and showed disappointment and fear.

Anaya watched their reactions with interest. It allowed her a chance to see people outside the small group that came on the mission. And from the information that Jennings gave her during their talk several of the top officers, the ones that were going to make the key decisions were present on the other side of the screen. It was important to know their reactions, and if they would react with fear or rashness to the news. What she saw, was that although they obviously felt fear they didn’t shed away. Instead she saw determination, and even that look of desperation but also preparedness to fight no matter what, a look she knew well from her builders.

She noticed that no one dared to break the silence. She stepped up.

“Admirals, sirs I know that for many of you, for all of you those news will mean that maybe all hope is lost. That especially goes for the scientists that are present there.”

She noticed that they looked up and every one of them and the people present on the bridge as well were now looking at her.

“Your ancestors, the people that build this fleet, this ship, fought with them, fought and won. They lost not because they were weaker, but because they underestimated them, and placed their trust on civilizations that betrayed them. Now is not the time for that story, and I hope that one day I will be able to tell it, but you must know one thing. They respected your ancestors, and they feared them. But they obviously forgot. And now they underestimate you. I don’t know what kind of a fleet is coming here, but the fact that you now know where they will exit, that fact gives you a chance. And if you were able to take out those ships with the technology that you had, then think what you’ll be able with the one that this ship posses. You have a chance, you need to use it.”

She noticed the smiles that appeared on several of their faces. She smiled as well. She gave them hope and that was the most important thing how.

Jennings came forward and as he looked at her he smiled and nodded. She returned the nod and retreated.

“Sir you need to read the report. I believe that the information’s in it will help. They will help a lot. I’m also sending you a list of people that we will need to come here. It will be a long one.”

Paterson, who until then stood at the back and listen to the conversation and at the same time admired the beautiful artificial being on the bridge on the other side of the screen turned. He was fascinated by the technology he could see, not just in her, and there but also that she demonstrated. The fact that it was possible to make a video call from the edge of the Solar system, the quality of the video and on the images from the fleet he could see, the sheer size of them and finally it was the AI. The capability to create an advanced computer being that was obviously sentient, that alone showed the huge advancement of her creators. And her creators were humans according to the claims of the crew of the Deadalus.

He slowly stepped forward. The gathered generals and admirals let him pass to the front. He smiled as he noticed his young colleague on the other side.

“You look good Edward.”

The young scientist turned as he heard his name. A small smile appeared on his face as he noticed his mentor.

“You as well doctor.”

After this he coughed and looked at the little marvel before his eyes.

“And that same comment goes to you as well my dear.”

The AI looked surprised by his compliment. She turned her head and looked at the people around her, and then smiled.

“Thank you Dr. Paterson.”

He smiled back and then his face took a sterner look.

“You said people that will need to come there? That will mean that the Deadalus will have to make several trips or that one of those ships will have to come here to pick them up.”

Jennings smiled.

“The Deadalus won’t make that journey doc. It will be a ship of this fleet. Not only are they faster, but considering the number of people that we will need, let’s just say that the Deadalus will need to make several dozen journeys to bring them all here.”

Paterson looked at the captain. He could understand the advantages of that but he also wandered if they considered the risks.

“Considering the age of those ships captain is it wise to send one before it is fully checked.”

Before Jennings could answer Anaya glided forward.

“The Demetrion is fully capable of making that journey doctor. Both I and the ship’s AI can confirm that. The cruiser has damages, same as the others but they are minor, and there are none to its engines.  Its sub light drive is fully operational. There won’t be any problems.”

“You mean that there are others like yourself?”

Everyone now looked at her. Even the people that were with her, on the bridge, they turned with surprised looks on their faces. It was obvious that they thought she was the only one. She never shared that information, but she guessed that they would come to the conclusion.

“I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it but I thought you knew.”

Jennings looked at her and just nodded accepting her apology.

“Does every ship have one AI like you?”

She turned to the screen as she heard the question.

“Not every ship in this fleet. All the military ships have one. But I’m a class eighth while the others are classes six and seven. None of them is as advanced as me, and none of them will be able to operate for much longer. They are not as advanced as me. But don’t worry Aria is ok.”

At his surprised look she smiled.

“That is the name of the AI of the Demetrion.”

Paterson smiled and nodded.

“Good to know. So to be straight you guarantee the safety.”

Without a second thought the AI answered.

“Yes doctor. I would swear but considering that I’m artificial…”

Her last comment brought smiles on everyone’s face. Paterson smiled and looked at her.

“It’s ok dear. I look forward to working with you.”

He backed up after this and allowed Admirals Levin and Simonson to come forward.

“And when will you be coming for the others captain?”

Before answering Jennings turned and looked at Anaya as if waiting for her confirmation. She nodded and he turned his gaze to his superiors.

“The Demetrion will be in Earth’s orbit in twenty four hours.”

“Then we’d better hurry don’t we?” - The comment came from Levin.

“I’d say yes sir but…”