Part 25 (2/2)
”Claw is a capable opponent with a high degree of sophistication. Its movements are obscured. We have only obtained control of approximately fifteen percent of the station's computing power and twenty percent of data storage-”
”Okay, no need to continue the report. Concentrate on the mission at hand.”
”We have adequate resources to perform the report as well as conduct the incursion. Of course, this data is accessible through your personal view.”
Bren knew he wasn't able to find or use most of the information available in his PV as fast as it happened, but he didn't mention that to Meridian. To do so would highlight his inferiority to the AI core.
”Perhaps more regular reports would be helpful ... of course, without compromising the chances of mission success.”
”I am warning the marine commander of an imminent attack at the s.p.a.ceport,” Meridian said.
Chatter rose on the marine command channel again.
”Mines are going off in the s.p.a.ceport,” Henley explained.
Bren bit off his question. Any evidence that they killed a Red? He tried to stay on only as a listener to the channel. He took an active role only with the a.s.sAIL channels.
”The a.s.sAIL units are over five minutes away,” said Bren.
”Looks like this spinner is going to stick with hit-and-run tactics,” Henley said. ”We don't see any evidence we got anything. No bodies, human or otherwise.”
Bren saw that two more marines had been hit and one of them was already dead.
”We're going ahead with the plan,” Henley said. ”Maybe those mines damaged the spinner.”
Bren reviewed the incursion plan yet again. The two hydrogen cell factories were last. The Avalon board and control plan involved waiting until the UNSF had more time on the AI cores, and longer to get control of the station's systems before going into the largest and most complex parts of the station. Thankfully, the factories were pressurized but without oxygen, in order to avoid the danger of explosion. The factories were fully automated. Engineers who worked on the factory floors needed breathing masks, as did marines who intended to go there, but the a.s.sAILs could operate there without augmentation.
”Meridian,” Bren transmitted. ”Suggest alterations to the mission plan to increase chances of success of primary objectives.”
The response was immediate.
”Flood either hydrogen cell factory with oxygen and ignite it. The station would be destroyed. This serves to disable the enemy allowing capture and study.”
”We aren't willing to sacrifice the people on board that station, or even the station itself.”
”Preservation of the station is not stated as a primary objective. Only capture of aliens, or failing that, neutralization of aliens on the station.”
”If you fail to capture or neutralize the cyborgs, then we probably will destroy the station, but not before.”
”These constraints seriously hinder the mission. They greatly increase chances of failure.”
”Understood,” Bren said. He started to brood about the outcome of the mission. They only had four machines left in action. If the Red hadn't been damaged by the mines, could they hope to prevail? He checked the team's armor in his PV. Each a.s.sAIL had several of the armor fractures. A hit by a high velocity projectile in the right place could take any one of them out.
The a.s.sAILs moved into the first factory. Somewhat like the previous factory on Tanelorn, the hydrogen cell factory didn't have a single open floor. The machinery rose several stories high, riddled with access tubes that allowed engineers and bots to maintain it from the inside. To Bren it was like a three-dimensional version of the Guts. So much equipment and machinery built into a tiny s.p.a.ce like a complex engineering puzzle.
Meridian had to bend its legs a little to fit inside the access tube.
”This is worse than I realized,” Bren transmitted.
”What do you suggest?” Henley replied.
Bren considered the open tube on Meridian's frontal camera. He didn't even want to mention Meridian's suggestion. He knew the UNSF wasn't ready to consider destroying the station unless the Vigilant was in danger of capture, although Bren estimated four a.s.sAILs against one spinner to be even odds. If there were more than one, they'd lose.
”Maybe we can enlist some of their own maintenance robots to scout it out. If those things could pinpoint the Red's location, it might make a difference.”
”Okay. We have a handful of automated scouts of our own. I'll hand them over to your cores.”
”Give your pointers to Meridian,” Bren said.
”Will do. Is Meridian the leader?”
”Yes,” Bren said.
At least it speaks for them. And I don't really know why. It might be because Meridian always enters the breach first, or just because I usually watch the action through Meridian's camera.
Bren brooded over Meridian's behavior for long minutes while the scouts received programming from the AI cores.
If Meridian's behavior means it's about to go out of our control, giving it slave machines could prove to be a mistake.
Various other robots were entering the factory area. Bren's PV showed five recon bots that belonged to the s.p.a.ce force as well as another four maintenance machines that had been suborned by the BCP electronics warfare people and handed over to the AI cores. The maintenance machines were flat work platforms mounted on magnetic treads that could move around the maintenance tubes of the factory. Bren watched the marine reconnaissance machines with interest. They looked like agile, six-legged insects. Watching them move gave Bren a chill.
They're too lifelike in their movements. They really look alive.
The a.s.sAIL units spread out. Each machine moved in front of an access tube leading into the giant ma.s.s of the factory. Two of the scouts scurried into the tunnels ahead of the a.s.sAILs. About fifteen seconds later, the larger war machines followed them in.
”Here we go,” Bren said aloud. Once again, he felt frustrated. His role lay in preparing for each board and control operation; all he could do now was watch the results.
Bren's PV centered a pane that kept track of the machine locations in a two dimensional map of the factory viewed from an ”Earthside up” aspect. The factory was large; Bren figured it could take half an hour to clear it. But it didn't take long for the intrusion to be noticed.
”Contact near Oblivion,” Bren noted. Both scout machines ahead of Oblivion winked out. Bren switched to Oblivion's cam to get a look, but he couldn't get a signal. The PV showed Oblivion backing up with Nergal and Orion coming in to support it on both sides.
Bren winced. Neptune and Orion had started firing into the factory. It didn't seem possible to Bren that both machines had a direct line of sight on the Red, but he couldn't be sure. He'd seen the cores shoot through walls before. He knew the machines had senses superior to a human as well as a razor intellect that could elect to take shots through walls to kill foes out of sight.
”Neptune reports that the Red is wounded!” said a handler. Bren saw confirmation in his own PV. He also saw that Neptune had a growing number of the fractures.
All four remaining machines were firing now. Bren wondered where all those rounds were ending up. Did the machines only fire when they had a backstop? Or did they consider depressurization of the factory a necessary evil? Bren guessed that Admiral Jameson wouldn't be too angry if they depressurized or even destroyed the factory as long as they got the Red.
”Neptune has been destroyed,” someone said aloud in the Guts. The voice held the same emotion Bren felt at that moment: fighting against a sinking feeling of doom.
Bren noticed that Meridian had turned away from the epicenter of the violence. He eyed the display. The turn continued full circle until Meridian fell into line behind Nemesis. Bren immediately became suspicious of Meridian once more. Had it positioned itself behind Nemesis for self-preservation?
”Nemesis is taking fractures.”
Nemesis was throwing glue grenades with its tentacle. Meridian opened fire. It st.i.tched three shots into Nemesis. As the machine fell, Meridian sent three more rounds through the dead cha.s.sis.
Hoffman groaned. Bren shook his head.
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