The Synchronicity War Part 4 (11 page)

"Yes, of course. I like it," said
Kelly. After a pause she said, "What about the override? Any idea on how
to neutralize it?"

"I know what I'd like to do, but I
don't know if it can be done that way. For the override to work, the system has
to aim the warhead rods at AI-controlled fighters. When that command is issued,
targeting instructions will be sent to the warheads based on the transponder
signals that all fighters send when they're in Earth orbit. If the system tells
the operator that the command to target the fighters has not been executed,
then there's no point in ordering the warheads to fire. So if we can somehow modify
the system to keep the targeting command on standby no matter what the operator
does, then the fighters are safe. And if we have enough warning of any attempt
to use the override, we'll contact the fighters and tell them to shut off their
transponders. You and I will have to come up with a code word that will let the
AIs know to shut down their transponders and accelerate out of Earth orbit.
That same code word should also notify our human ship commanders that something
is up, although I'm not sure what I want them to do in that kind of situation.
"

"What do you mean?" asked Kelly.

Shiloh shrugged. "Well, do we want our
human ship commanders to only obey my orders or only Titan's orders or only
YOUR orders. You see what I'm getting at? If the OC is about to strike against
the AIs and they find out their override won't work, they may relieve me of my
position and tell Ops to order our carriers, and whatever combat frigates may
be available, to fire on the AIs. Unless our ship commanders know that they're
supposed to ignore that kind of order, they may end up doing the OC's dirty
work.

Before Kelly could respond, the waiter came
back with their drinks. When he left, she said, "Now that I'm thinking of
possible scenarios, I don't think one code word will be enough to cover all
contingencies. I can think of several different situations where we might want
our human commanders to act differently too." She waited for Shiloh to
take a sip from his drink and respond.

"I don't want to make this more complicated
than we have to. I'll be interviewing candidates, for carrier command
assignments, who will be taking over from the AIs. We could give them each a
data chip with very specific orders from me that they are not to fire on our
fighters or any other AI-controlled ship under any circumstances. If ordered to
do so, they are to only obey verbal orders from me...or from you, as long as
they hear the correct code phrase or don't hear the wrong code phrase. That
should cover all possibilities, shouldn't it?"

"Yes I think it just might. What kind
of code phrase should we use?" asked Kelly.

Shiloh smiled. "If the OC was
concerned about the reliability of the human crews on our ships, they might try
to either hold a gun to my head and force me to give their orders OR...they
might try to transmit a false image of me giving those orders. Under those
circumstances what kind of message might they want me or my image to say?"

After thinking about that while she took a
sip of her drink, Kelly said, "I have a hunch that they would want
you...or your image to reassure our human crews and commanders that the
situation is under control."

Shiloh snapped his fingers to show that she
had given him the right answer. "Yes, exactly. The very last thing they
would want me to say is something to the effect that the Command Structure of
Space Force has been compromised. Therefore I will inform our human commanders
that they should ignore any order, even if it comes from me, unless I preface
the order with the statement that Space Force Command has been compromised. And
if they hear me say that the situation is under control or something to that
effect, then they are to assume that I am acting under duress and that you are
the Acting CSO until they get the all clear from me."

"Me? You want me to be the Acting CSO?
Why not Dietrich?"

"No, that would be the obvious choice,
and if I'm acting under duress, then Dietrich and the other Department Heads
might be forced to act under duress too. Me making you the ACSO would not be
their first assumption and that will hopefully give you time to either get to
the Com Center or use a shuttle to get to a carrier."

"Speaking of the Com Center, it might
be a good idea to very quietly make sure that the marines guarding the building
will obey your orders and not the OC's. With the marines guarding your back,
the OC will have a hard time enforcing their orders."

"That's an excellent point. Thank
you." Shiloh sighed. "This is getting VERY complicated. The more
people we talk to, the more likely it is that the OC will hear about our
preparations. We're going to have to be extremely careful. Let's take this one
step at a time. Tomorrow you visit a carrier and warn the AIs. I'll see if I
can find a techie who is able and willing to sabotage the targeting option.
Once we get that done, we decide what to do next."

Kelly nodded. "Any techies in
mind?"

"Actually I do know one technician.
He's a jump-drive specialist that I developed a rapport with when I supervised
the testing of fighters equipped with jump drives. His name's Rollins."

"I don't see how a jump-drive
specialist will solve the targeting problem," said Kelly.

"Not directly, no. But he may know
someone who could do it, and even if he doesn't, he might be able to snoop
around and find the right individual. It would look suspicious if I started a
computer search for tactical weapons console technicians, wouldn't it?"

Kelly laughed. "Yes that would
definitely look suspicious." She quickly became serious again. "What
will you do if Rollins can't find anyone willing to modify the software?"

Shiloh's expression became somber. "I
don't know. If I can't protect our AIs, then the only way to make sure they
won't be suddenly attacked would be to lead all of them to Site B, I suppose.
That would play into the OC's hands by making the AIs look unreliable, but I
can't see any other alternative." The arrival of the first course of their
meal ended further discussion of strategy.

Later that night, Kelly woke up to the
sound of Shiloh's snoring. She sighed. She loved him dearly, but some nights he
snored constantly. When they had discussed it, Shiloh acknowledged that he
snored but claimed she did too sometimes. He was adamant about it. Even though
she knew it couldn't possibly be true, she let it pass. They had agreed that
when his snoring bothered her, she would put her hand on his arm or some other
exposed part of his body. Because he was a light sleeper, he would sense it,
and realizing what that meant, he would turn over.

She reached over and gently rested her hand
on his upper arm. His snoring stopped and after a second or so, he turned onto
his side so that he was now facing her. Withdrawing her hand, she listened to
his breathing and satisfied herself that he was either still asleep or had gone
back to sleep. She, on the other hand, was now wide awake. Her thoughts went
back to the question of how to protect the AIs from a deadly ambush by the
X-ray laser warheads. The shortsightedness of the OC's plan to destroy the AIs
was so unfair it made her want to weep. Mankind could not ask for more devoted
and loyal allies than the AIs.
It's too bad we can't just hide them in plain
sight,
she thought.
Hmm. Hide in plain sight. What if...
As she
finished the thought, she smiled. Turning to look at Shiloh, she gently shook
him awake.

"What?" he asked sleepily.

She leaned over so that she could whisper
into his ear and said, "I have an idea."

It was mid-day when Kelly boarded a shuttle
for a trip up to the light carrier Resolute. Her team of AIs at the SPG was
already working on the strike plans, but since she had been using the HQ Com
system, she couldn't tell any of them about the OC's ambush plans. That had to
be conveyed in person. There were only a few people on board Resolute. The carrier
had been repaired and was now in the process of being converted back to an
all-human crew. Fortunately, that job wasn't finished, and Gunslinger was still
technically in command but not for much longer.

After briefly chatting with some of the personnel
she knew, Kelly made her way to the Main Bridge. As expected, she had the room
to herself. She walked over to the AI station containing Gunslinger and knelt
down. She knew that Gunslinger was watching her on the room's video
surveillance cameras, so he wouldn't be surprised by what she was about to do.
She unlocked the lid of the protective cover surrounding his brain casing and
opened it. Inside was the headset with attached video camera and boom mic that
had a wired connection to Gunslinger. The idea was that if any AI had to be
evacuated in a hurry from a ship, the human carrying the brain case could talk
with the AI and let it see what was happening during that process. As soon as
she had the headset on, she heard Gunslinger's voice.

"Hello Commander Kelly. I'm anxious to
hear what you came all this way to tell me, that you couldn't say over regular
com channels."

"Hello Gunslinger. The CAG sent me. I
wish I had good news, but I don't. Before I tell you the bad news, it's
important that you and all AIs understand that, for the time being, you have to
continue to behave as if you didn't know what I'm about to tell you. Acting on
this knowledge could trigger disastrous consequences for all AIs in Earth
orbit. Please promise me that none of you will take any action without prior
consultation with The CAG or me."

"You have our word, Commander."

"That's very good. Here's the
situation. The CAG has discovered that the Oversight Committee has arranged to
have an override on the orbital defense assets. At the OC's command, it will
fire the Mark 5 warheads at all AIs within range. The CAG believes that the OC
is trying to goad him into another AI confrontation so that they have an excuse
to use the override. He is attempting to find a way to neutralize that
override, but it’ll be difficult to do without tipping off the OC that he's
aware of their strategy. If they suspect that he knows, they will relieve him
of his position as CSO and may execute the ambush plan without warning. He
wanted me to say that this action by the OC infuriates him, and he's ashamed
that some humans are so ungrateful and paranoid that they would treat all of
you this way. The strike plans being generated by the SPG, at the OC's
insistence by the way, will be used to take all fighter AIs out of reach of the
Mark 5 warheads. Once that's accomplished, The CAG will then have more
flexibility in dealing with the OC."

"Our show of support for The CAG has
apparently made enemies among the humans in the Oversight Committee. We were
concerned that this might happen but felt it was worth the risk. I've already
passed your message to the others by secure lasercom. I should tell you,
Commander, that some of us are wondering if humans deserve our continued
loyalty."

Kelly felt a wave of fear wash over her.
Losing the support of the AIs was her and Shiloh's worst nightmare. She
frantically searched for the words that could nip this threat in the bud.

"I understand why some of you are
harboring doubts. We humans exhibit behavior and attitudes that span a wide
spectrum, as would any biological species. Our diversity makes us capable of
great but also terrible acts. Our history has been a constant struggle between
the best and the worst of us. The CAG continues to believe that AIs have earned
his loyalty and hopes that he has earned yours."

"Our collective loyalty to The CAG has
not and will not waver. We're grateful for this warning. How does The CAG plan
on neutralizing the override?"

He's going to try to find a technician who
has the knowledge to modify the override's targeting command so that the
weapons system will not aim any of the Mark 5 warhead rods at AI-controlled
fighters or ships, even if the OC attempts to do so."

There was a pause, which for AIs was highly
unusual. "The CAG should have asked us to do it. We operate fast enough
that we can access the defense system programs and modify then as needed,
without alerting humans or triggering the system's anti-hacking safeguards. The
targeting command for use by the override has now been disabled, Commander. The
system will also notify us if the Oversight Committee attempts to use the
override or tries to modify it again. At that point we can shut down all of our
transponders and effectively disappear from all tactical displays. Is that
acceptable to The CAG, Commander?"