63 Book 4 - Chapter 121 (1/2)
Chapter 121: The Eye of the Sahara
Y: 2142
Inter-Academy Round 4 Fortescue Points: 418, Rank: 6, PR: 0.5225
Term: 3, Round: 4
Approximate Daedalus Financial Position: +100,000 bitcreds
Mace checked the status reports constantly as the medi-lab worked on her father. Once he was inside the robotic arms and specialised yet stunted, AI took over. It was of the machine learning variety were its self-coding was restricted to its area of expertise. The human body.
CPU hosted AIs were to the cybernetic implant AIs the cadets used as was an Autovan to a Mech. One was very good at a specific task where the other could do almost anything it applied itself.
”It can manufacture its own nanobots,” Mace observed with slight surprise.
”It's the best we could get,” Daedo replied.
They did not discuss the cost of the planets best medi-lab on rushed order. Some things were more important than bitcreds.
The surgery did not take long, but due to the prior anesthetics, Gabe did not regain consciousness for a few hours.
Adele waited for him as he exited with the assistance of a pair of robotic arms which moved via the same mag technology which autocars used. Every sizable piece of equipment floated in the medi-lab. And the smaller items were carried by the robotic arms.
Adele had been keeping Gabe up to date during the three-day battle when he came round on a regular basis before she put him back under.
”Is everyone here?” He asked Mace, not wasting time on pleasantries.
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Mace looked around, ”Just us four,” she replied.
”No I mean, did you get everyone from Nanterre. Everyone from Daedalus. Daedo's Father and Aunty.”
Daedo cleared his throat, ”Cisse isn't my Aunty.”
Gabe inclined his head, ”That's a moot point. They'll be targeted. We need to get everyone here who could be construed that Daedo cared about.”
Gabe limped unconsciously when he took a few steps, ”They want you Daedo, not because of the information you have but because they think Nader will come for you. They won't let you go even if you answered all their questions. Not until they have Nader.”
”They are certain she is an Alien?” He asked.
”She fits the profile, and while no smoking gun has been found its amazing that nothing clearing her has either. She is just too good with cybersecurity, it doesn't add up for a Master at an Academy. It's over a seventy percent certainty that she is an alien after the incident where she detected the hybrid spytbot. We can't do that.”
”That was a good strategy. You would either have data from conversations or confirmation of her advanced technology,” Daedo observed.
Gabe nodded, ”It was Adele's idea.”
”Except our daughter refused for the longest time to plant it on you,” Adele added.
Mace merely hung her head looking at the ground in silence.
”Gabe, we need to get you in a bodysuit,” Adele stated, he was butt naked.
He nodded and was led by Adele towards the temporary living quarters. He stopped and turned his head after a number of steps, ”Get everyone here and we can discuss what we know about the organisation as soon as I'm dressed.”
Daedo turned to Mace. ”Is it safe to have a permanent connection to the net?”
Mace shook her head, ”It's never safe. The only defence that was uncrackable, that I know of, was Master Naders.”
”Then you are your Mother will have to do your best to ensure it remains free from intrusion. We can't live isolated from the world and do what we need to do,” Daedo stated.
”Okay,” Mace replied. Her mood was dulled by the prior conversation, it still hurt her that she planted the spybot on Daedo.
All the occupants of the base gathered in the carrier which was still parked on the surface. Two were in mechs, and the rest were in bodysuits or exos. They could use the equipment on the carrier including communications, and by removing everyone from the base, it allowed the construction bots free access to progress some of the major changes that were planned.
Daedo began the meeting with a short introduction and explanation, ”We will begin the meeting by gaining some understanding of the immediate threat which has brought us all here. I am sorry that everyone has got caught up in this, it was never, Mace's or my intention that that would happen. Gabe and Adele will tell us what they know of the entity simply known as the organisation.”
Gabe stood taking the floor from Daedo with Adele standing slightly behind him for support.
”Adele and I met shortly after recruitment, we had both recently graduated from our Academies specialising in different fields. As you may know, Adele is a cyber warfare specialist, while I am more of a garden variety information gatherer.”
”Our mission was to find alien infiltrators and interference, and the organisation would root it out. On occasion, we would be investigating people, not aliens, who were designated as conspirators or insurrectionists. People who sided with alien influence.”
”After extensive training, profiling and indoctrination we were always on the front line, so we have little understanding of the organisation other than operational. We know almost everything about how they operate.”
”Policy will place the species above the individual, it is one of the core doctrines,” He emphasised.
”This means, a single life does not matter. Especially if that life is increasing the risk to the species, even if its minute.”
”We have personally routed four suspected aliens, but the majority of our work was gathering information on conspirators,” he looked towards Adele.
She took over his speech, ”Daedo is classed as an insurrectionist, and we by association will be classed as conspirators. In the eyes of the organisation, our lives are inconsequential. If they manage to take Daedo alive, it will not matter if it costs all of our lives. And if you go back to your homes, or an Academy, or go into hiding, no matter where you are, including remaining here. The organisation will want you initially to use as collateral to bring in Daedo, and if they already have him, they may dispose of you as an enemy of mankind.”
”So If I give myself up, everyone else can go back to their lives?” Daedo asked.
Gabe shook his head, ”Maybe your friends, but it will never be over for Ameline, Adele and I. We are worse than conspirators, we are traitors.”
”You're not giving yourself up to them!” Vannier shouted a little too loudly and emotionally. ”I don't care if I have to live in the desert and emancipate. You will surrender over my dead body.”
”Ditto,” Barran said over the comms. He was in one of the mechs outside.
”I've already decided I'm staying,” Picard stated her commitment in a fashion that did not endorse argument.
There was still Kang and Axelzero, both of whom were quiet. The gathering in the carrier remained in awkward silence for a time.
Until Axelzero broke the disquiet, ”I want to stay.” Was all she said.
Vannier was about to move the conversation along when Kang raised her hand and asked, ”Is my Father in danger?”
Gabe and Adele knew little of the Daedalus particulars as Mace only reported on Master Nader. Gabe asked, ”What is his relationship with Daedalus other than you?”
”His mech is sponsored and designated as a Daedalus mech,” Vannier answered.
Gabe nodded, ”He'll be under surveillance. Ensure that a negative relationship with Daedo is communicated. Kang?”
”Yes?” She asked.
”Would you be able to tell your Father you are being kept here against your will?” Gabe asked.
”If I did … that would cause so many issues. What about police? News? He would try and come here!”
”And then we could set him straight in person,” Gabe answered smiling.
”Oh, you're evil,” Barran observed. It was the perfect misdirection to get into personal contact with Mister Kang.
”They know you are capable of this strategy,” Daedo stated.
”Ah, but am I here?” Gabe replied. ”Adele and I will be leaving as soon as we manufacture a few needed pieces of equipment. And steal a couple of those life support exos for the run.”
”And do what?” Mace asked suddenly alive, alert and distraught at the same time.
”Darling,” her Mother said sadly. ”You're Father works best out there, and he needs me with him. He can't do it alone.”