Killian sent.
<Captain Thornton had two contacts with Chandra soon after the Toralian squadron returned. Her ship had trouble gathering telemetry through the battleship’s hull, and she requested the Trident relocate.>
The bridge holo-vid was activated. A wireframe model of the Talus system populated it. Two dots lit up.
<Captain Thornton’s ship is in line with the fleet and Talus,> Trium sent, drawing a line from one dot high above the ecliptic, through a second dot nearer Talus and then to the star.
<After the captain confirmed his new location with Chandra, she didn’t contact him again and requested he not contact her,> Killian reported.
<Minimizing contact, staying passive because of the probes,> Julien sent.
<Undoubtedly,> Killian sent.
The wireframe model of the system expanded until it filled the holo-vid. Then a plethora of colored dots appeared around the outer edge.
<Green dots are the thirty probes, within the outer belt, Alex,> Genoa sent. <They’ve maintained their spacing.>
<A warning, Alex,> Bethley added. <They maintain line of sight with the Toral comm platforms and into the dark.>
<Have you seen them evade objects?> Miranda asked.
<Not in any overt manner,> Trium replied.
<But we believe these are superior probes, Dassata,> Killian continued, <although we have no proof of that. It’s the coincidence of their consistent open sighting to Toral that defies circumstances.>
<Artifice must be aware of the presence of our ships, Alex,> Julien sent.
<We believe it is, Julien,> Beryl sent. <It’s the consensus of the scout SADEs that Artifice chooses not to waste resources chasing us.>
<It’s the data streams of the Toralian ships, which returned from the Chistorlan home world, and our passive observations that have Artifice worried,> Linn sent.
<Worried how?> Alex asked.
<There’s a shift of bots across the Toral surface, Dassata,> Killian sent.
The holo-vid view was replaced by one of the target planet. It was no longer a wireframe model but an image of the planet’s surface. The bridge audience waited. A vid began that stitched together static images of the planet on a cyclical basis. It eliminated the planet’s rotation.
More than sixty frames formed the vid. At first, there was little distinction between the images, but as the rotations passed, the stream of bots became pronounced. They formed a river headed toward the polar region.
<Artifice is expecting us,> Julien summarized.
<I’m sure Artifice has considered every possible attack scenario, with the information it possesses,> Tatia sent. Her thought possessed a fiendish element. <Too bad Artifice doesn’t possess all the information it requires.>
<Are there any details on the bots?> Reiko asked.
<The bots moving to the polar region appear to be standard units, Admiral,> Linn replied. <Large construction bots were festooned with smaller units that hitched a ride.>
<However, changes occur at the polar region,> Trium interjected. <We’re too far away to observe the details, but it appears many bots were deconstructed, and their parts separated into piles. Over time, those piles are slowly being reduced.>
<Artifice is constructing either new bots or something else,> Alex offered.
<New arrays are under construction, Dassata,> Killian sent. <However, the bots that were deconstructed would have supplied more material than the arrays need.>
The holo-vid changed to a detail of one of the new arrays under construction.
<Apologies, Alex,> Trium sent. <This image has already been corrected. It’s the best we can do at our range.>
<Conjectures,> Alex requested.
<My interpretation of this amorphous blob,> Miriam sent, <is that this structure will support a focused array. Unlike Artifice’s fixed, static antennas, this one will have directional capability and be powered, probably by a construction bot engine.>
<You can make out those details?> Reiko asked, staring hard into the holo-vid image.
<Negative, Admiral,> Miriam replied. <That’s my conjecture, as Alex requested. It’s what I would do, if I were Artifice, to protect my communication with the probes.>
<And the probes are the key to controlling the patrolling fleets and the federacy’s races,> Julien sent.
<If the bots complete this and other arrays, then taking out the comm platforms isn’t enough to eliminate communications with the probes,> Tatia ventured.
<Miriam, what’s your thought about construction time to complete this first array?> Alex asked.
The bridge watched the holo-vid replay the sequence of the bots streaming toward Artifice’s domain several times. Each time was faster and faster. Then the blurred imagery of the northern region appeared, and it was streamed too.
<Apologies, Alex, there’s too little data to make an educated guess about the rate that the bots are constructing these structures,> Miriam said.
<Killian, I need to contact our traveler aboard the Dark Whispers,> Alex sent. <What would you suggest?>
<Commander Sargut’s ship is broadside to the ecliptic, Dassata,> Killian replied. <We believe Chandra requested the Toralians orient their ship to maximize the traveler’s penetration of the bay’s blast doors. Genoa’s ship is best positioned to relay your communication to the traveler without crossing the system.>
-24-
Grand Commander
<Miriamal,> Alex sent, <we’ll be communicating our attack plans in the open across the Talus system. There’s a good probability that Artifice’s probes will record our signals. I’m concerned for our comm security.>
<Alex, we’ve been using a form of random encryption ever since the encounter with the Nua’ll comm sphere in the New Terra system,> Miriamal replied.
“The things you don’t know,” Alex muttered.
Alex heard a croak and glanced at Miranda. Miftra was cradled in the crook of the SADE’s arm. She was still ensconced in her Frederica avatar, and the Chistorlan was dwarfed in comparison.
<Genoa, I need a link to Chandra’s traveler,> Alex requested. He heard Chandra’s reply, but it was weak.
<Alex, I’m repositioning the scout ship. I’ll contact you again when I’ve a better signal,> Genoa sent.
In the meantime, Alex and the SADEs examined the details of the scout ships’ telemetry of the Talus system. Of key interest to them were every means that Artifice possessed to send signals — its polar antennas, the comm platforms circling the planet, and the probes hiding in the outer belt. To protect the fleets, these network components had to be completely eliminated in as short a period of time as possible.
Tatia, Reiko, and Franz had other ideas. When Alex and the SADEs had a sufficient amount of time on the holo-vid, Tatia took control. The admirals examined each of the nine fleets, itemizing the count, relative sophistication, and armament ports.
“Nine fleets,” Tatia summarized, “but they fall into two categories. Six of these fleets appear to be superior, similar to the Toralian ships.”
The holo-vid view started with a Toralian ship. Then examples of five other fleet ships appeared. The hull designs varied, but it was clear that the ships were technologically advanced and possessed heavy armament. Each of the five fleets was a match for the number of Toralian battleships.
“On the other hand,” Tatia continued, “these three fleets are definitely less advanced. The ships are shorter, and their armament ports are less numerous and smaller.”
“Look at the positioning of all nine fleets,” Reiko said.
“Interesting,” Alex remarked, shifting to a wireframe view and rotating it to observe the fleets relative to Talus and Toral. He laughed, when he saw the tags Tatia had applied.
“What?” Franz asked, smiling at Alex’s laughter.
“Look at the positions of the six powerful fleets, as they’ve been identified,” Alex suggested, “and compare them to the three smaller fleets.”
“The six guard the approaches to the system
along the ecliptic,” Franz said, joining in the laughter. “Don’t you love it when an entity becomes dependable?”
“Careful, dear man,” Miranda admonished. “You like the fact that you can count on the SADEs in that same manner.”
“That’s true, Miranda,” Franz riposted. “And I like it even better when an entity, who is trying to destroy our worlds, possesses the same characteristic. The federacy fleets have demonstrated a preference for approaching a system along the ecliptic, which is why the heavier armament fleets are positioned there. The lesser fleets are positioned above and below the ecliptic to guard the approach to Toral, in the event of an intrusion by a minor force.”
Alex stared at the holo-vid. He was lost in thought. More than one individual sought access to the display, but they were locked out. After a while, Alex released the holo-vid and began pacing. Many of the bridge audience mentally cheered their leader’s action. Alex was deeply engaged in strategizing the final conflict.
<We’ve a clear signal, Alex,> Genoa sent.
Alex stopped pacing and linked to Cordelia, who added the senior staff.
<Chandra,> Alex sent.
<What’s the status of the Toralian fleet?> Alex requested.
<The fleet is clear of Artifice’s programs,> Chandra replied. <Grand Commander Tranimus and Liaison Suntred were tremendously supportive of the process.>
There was a quiet round of cheering and congratulatory back-patting on the part of the bridge personnel.
<How is Grand Commander Tranimus faring, Chandra?> Miranda asked. She had been the one to carry the aging Toralian through Sargut’s battleship to launch his shuttle before Artifice detected the vessel’s failure to promptly carry out its directive.
<I’m sorry to report, Miranda, that Grand Commander Tranimus died,> Chandra sent. <The Toralians refer to what happened as the Change, and apparently it comes over an individual quite quickly at the end of life.>
Chandra had shared some time with Suntred on the subject. Tranimus was bedridden, when he could no longer grip a bar to sleep. He was swaddled in soft material to reduce the pressure on his wings, but the discomfort couldn’t be eliminated entirely. As was the custom, sleeping meds were administered, which prevented the worst of the Change’s discomforts ailing the grand commander. The senior staff watched Tranimus’ ridges gray from the tips down to the skull connections. When that cycle completed, death followed swiftly.
<Who leads the fleet now?> Alex asked. He had a sinking feeling that his plans had just been torn asunder.
<That would be Grand Commander Sargut,> Chandra announced proudly.
<How did that happen?> Tatia asked. <I had the feeling that Sargut wasn’t one of the fleet’s senior commanders.>
<Suntred explained to me that under normal circumstances, Sargut would have been fourth in the line of succession,> Chandra replied. <However, Senior Commander Taralum urged Tranimus to make Sargut the grand commander. Suntred agreed with Taralum. I think it was clearing the fleet of Artifice’s code, which had been brought about by Sargut’s efforts, which convinced the other senior commanders to step aside.>
Alex blew out a sigh of relief. His partial plan was still intact.
<Where are Z and Luther?> Alex asked.
<On the bridge of this ship, as are Sargut and Suntred. I notified them that I had a partial contact from Genoa and suspected the fleet was near. They’re standing by for your call.>
<Greetings, Alex,> Miriamelle sent. <Do you wish your communication to be private or on the bridge speakers?>
<On speaker is fine, Miriamelle,> Alex replied.
When Alex heard the bridge noise, he sent, <Grand Commander Sargut, my condolences on the loss of Grand Commander Tranimus. May the stars return him to you one day.>
“Thank you, Alex, for your sympathies. It was his time for the Change,” Sargut replied.
<And congratulations to the four of you, Grand Commander, Suntred, Z, and Luther, for clearing the fleet. Well done,> Alex sent.
“Your arrival is opportune, Alex,” Sargut said. “A round of conversations has recently been completed. I think I’ve the workings of a rudimentary plan.”
<Excellent,> Alex replied. <I might be able to complete it. Why don’t you proceed?>
“Have you analyzed your data streams on the fleets surrounding this system?” Sargut asked.
<We have,> Alex replied, <and noticed the placement of six superior fleets and three lesser ones.>
“As I thought you might have done,” Sargut said. “The fleets on the ecliptic are known to one or more of us. They’re older races, and some were known among us before Artifice ascended.”
<You conversed with them, Grand Commander?> Tatia asked. Her instincts were on alert at the thought of Artifice capturing their exchanges.
Sargut glanced toward Z, who identified the speaker.
“Admiral Tachenko, we’re an old race, as are the members of the other five fleets on the ecliptic,” Sargut replied. “We’ve been conversing in the open for generations. Our communications are about life on our colonies, the statuses of our ships, stories of our races, and much more. Many of these are just what they sound like, but we’ve built code into them. A message might be sent over several days by five or more different individuals. It takes time, but if Artifice had discovered our secret, it would have done something about it long ago.”
Alex smiled at the patience that the fleet commanders exhibited to build up codes over lifetimes, waiting for just such an opportunity as might have arrived.
<Did your messaging include the removal of Artifice’s code from your fleet, Grand Commander?> Reiko asked. Like Tatia, she was worried about information being caught by the probes.
After Z identified the speaker, Sargut replied, “Admiral Shimada, your concerns are noted. You must give us credit for the means in which we deal with Artifice and this system. Have the elder races made mistakes? Have we tried to defeat Artifice in earlier times? The answer is yes to both of these questions. We’ve learned to communicate without saying things.”
<Tell us what your conversations revealed,> Alex requested.
“We spoke about the grand commander’s death and the lifting of the burden from him at his passing,” Suntred said. “Burden is one of the many code words that we use for Artifice’s programs.”
The Freedom’s entire bridge heard the intake of whistles between sharp teeth and the laughter of Z, Luther, and Chandra.
<I can’t wait for this one,> Tatia sent privately to Alex.
“We speak in medical terms, when we wish to communicate something critical,” Suntred said. “Our apologies, Alex, but you’re referred to as a rash that has developed fleet wide.”
Alex’s booming laugh echoed around both bridges.
“Alex appreciates the comparison,” Z explained to the concerned faces of Sargut and Suntred.
<Grand Commander, you seem reticent to communicate in code among your own ships. Why is that?> Julien asked.
“Many generations ago, the grand commander and his senior staff were the first to speak to their opposites aboard other fleets,” Sargut explained. “We’ve been careful to limit the process to only the most senior staff. It was deemed foolish to involve lesser ranks, who might make mistakes. Within the fleet, it was easier and quicker for critical orders to be relayed to the commanders by the grand commander visiting each ship.”
<Grand Commander, continue with your summary of the communications with the five other fleets,> Alex sent.
“Suffice it to say, Alex, that they’ll cooperate with whatever plan we create,” Sargut replied.
<What of the other three fleets, Grand Commander?> Tatia asked.
“I believe it depends on our plan,” Sargut replied. “If Artifice feels our attack will be blunted, it will send those fleets to
the colony systems to reduce the perceived renegades. If Artifice feels endangered, those ships will sacrifice themselves to protect it, as the fleet did at the Chistorlan system.”
A soft hmm issued from Alex, and he began pacing.
Julien sent a quick signal to Z, who indicated that Sargut and Suntred should be patient.
Alex loved the practice of the elder races to hide their renegade messages in their communications. Suddenly, the missing part of his plan clicked into place, and a wide grin broke across his face.
Tatia saw Alex’s reaction, and her feral smile expressed her pleasure.
<The essence of our plan must be to defeat Artifice’s ability to signal the fleets that protect it, Grand Commander,> Alex sent, <but we need time to accomplish that. We need a series of attacks, and we need your fleet to play decoy.>
Z quickly explained the term decoy to the grand commander and liaison. To say that they appeared dubious was an understatement.
<I see these elements of Artifice’s network that must be destroyed … the probes, the comm platforms, and the polar antennas,> Alex explained.
“Agreed,” Sargut said.
<We can accomplish the first two aspects in a coordinated attack. The third will require a ground attack on Toral,> Alex continued.
<Unless, Grand Commander, you’ll give us permission to destroy the planet’s polar region from space,> Reiko quickly interjected.
Alex kept the frown off his face and waited for the answer.
“That would be a highly undesirable course of action, Admiral,” Sargut said.
<Alex, the grand commander’s brow ridges flushed a tint of red orange,> Luther sent. <It’s a sign of great agitation.>
Reiko ducked her head in apology.
<Grand Commander, if the Omnians attack the probes and the comm platforms, I would suspect that all the fleets will be sent against us,> Alex said.
“I would agree,” Sargut said.
<And your ships would be forced to fire live missiles at us to prove that you’re following Artifice’s directives,> Alex continued.
“Correct again, Alex.”
<Under those circumstances, we’ll never survive the fight and make a landing to deliver the Chistorlans’ final entity,>