Evolution's Cost: Rise of the Empyrean Empire: Novel 03 Read online

  None of them backed out either, and I felt a pride in them all. Humanity didn’t need to work, not with automated infrastructure and personal A.I.s, humanity only worked if they wanted to. So, these people were already the most self-sacrificing and best of humanity. If anything, the fact that one of us was found unworthy was a surprise to me, and not the fact that the rest were worthy. I’d never liked George but I didn’t know he had issues that way.

  When everyone was caught up, the captain asked if there were objections or suggestions for our plans.

  May spoke up, “Maam, I discussed this with Michael a little bit, but he said to bring it up now. I think we should do both plan A and B in concert. He mentioned we could probably drop me off in a shuttle at Sigma Draconis, on the way to Beta-Hydri?”

  The captain looked thoughtful for a moment, “Excellent idea, if nothing else it will speed up us getting a stronger presence in space for exploration. I can’t imagine exploration will stop, though we no longer will need to fight the aliens out there, even with their technology.”

  May nodded, “That was my intention, but even more than that, it’s a backup plan, in case things go wrong. Humanity’s existence is on the line, we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket, though it probably won’t be needed, it will still be useful in the long run for exploration if nothing else.”

  She glanced at me, “What?”

  I realized I was staring, “Just wondering where you were hiding all that passion May, I’ve never seen you this animated and self-assured. It looks good on you.”

  She was confident, always had been, but she’d always been far more reserved before.

  She replied, “We weren’t equals then Michael, and I was showing respect. I still respect you, but I no longer feel the need to submit to your authority, even if I will follow your orders in an emergency.”

  I nodded, that made sense. Lots of changes, and there were only twenty-eight of us, it was hard to imagine over twenty-one billion, where cooperation was done because it was what people wanted to do. Interests would be responsible for forming groups of humans in the future, not necessity.

  “That makes sense, this is going to be interesting.”

  She replied, “What is?”

  I smiled, “Getting to know who everyone really is, instead of what they’ve been projecting. It is very nice to meet you May.”

  The captain finally finished her thought process, “Good idea May, we’ll make that happen. Is there anyone who wants to volunteer to go with her?”

  Stacy immediately volunteered, which kind of made sense to me, she and May must have grown close quickly with the sparring and self-defense teaching in common. It also meant I’d get out of getting my ass kicked every night. Well, not for the next four or five days or so. It would take us that long to get out of this system, at least. Normally it took over six days, but it would only take a fraction of that when we made our break in two days’ time, because we weren’t going to flip ship and slow down.

  The second volunteer did surprise me, Ensign Ally Sanderson, the weapons and navigation officer on third watch. I had no idea she even spoke to either of them, much less was compelled to join. Until she explained why she wanted to go, then it made perfect sense.

  Ally said, “I’m really curious about the alien weapons and their protective shields. I also love space, and can’t wait before we learn how to jump directly to star systems, or just outside them. I trust you all to take care of the planets, while I go secure our future in exploring space with May and Stacy.”

  Now it made sense, she really liked things that exploded.

  The captain asked, “Anyone else?”

  No one else volunteered, but I had no worries, three was more than enough to complete that mission, if the A.I.s could be subverted and locked down the base, they could take care of things from a distance as well, merge or put them to sleep before fully moving in. Then they would recruit the scientists, and go from there. I supposed by the time they were done, we’d be done for months. The worlds would be freed of the UE, and Mars would be ready to go into production of a new ship line.

  That was the plan anyway.

  The captain said, “I think we’ll hold onto George a little longer, and put him with the banished group from Beta Hydri, once we find out where that’ll be. I’m not comfortable having no shuttles aboard, and if we’re losing one of them in our stop at Sigma Draconis, I’d rather keep the other. We only have two. Any other suggestions to add or modify in the plan?”

  I cleared my throat, “We have to figure out a way to get consent. The more I think about the plan, the more it seems like we’ll be passing freedom from tyranny by mind rape. That’s not a good start for our new better world. On top of that, we’ll be asking the people we just violated, good intentions or not, to turn around and do it to others, their neighbors and loved ones. It’s directly opposed by the one law we truly have as self-governed anarchists, if we’re going to use Cassiopeia as our model to follow for the rest of humanity, then we have to follow it from day one. We must not try and gain ascendency over others, not even for their own good. Some of the worst atrocities in history were perpetrated for the so-called good of the populace, anarchists are about the individual, and the individual’s dignity and rights to stand on their own.

  “I know we went out of our way to do it right on our ship, and think about how we would all feel if I’d just come back from the mission and imposed my mind on you without explaining, and expected you all to get over it. The fact that it’s just the once, doesn’t matter.”

  Katy sent, “I love you. That’s been bugging the hell out of me as well.”

  I blushed at the utter sincerity, boundless love, and pride in her mind voice, pride in me, and I returned the sentiment. It was also the first time either of us had gone there, and I’d had no idea before than that she returned my feelings so strongly.

  The captain asked, “And if they refuse? This crew trusted us because we were already a team, joined in purpose, and knew each other. Because they already followed us and we pulled them through the fire. If we transmit our message of hope over the airwaves, most humans will think we’re crackpots, and the government will react harshly and quickly if we give them time to do so. I’m not saying we shouldn’t give them a choice, I’m just laying out the problems we face, it will be much more complicated.”

  I replied, “I imagine some will say no. But eventually they’ll come around, and a neighbor or a loved one that did say yes will complete it for them, teach them. All we need to do is have enough people initially say yes, to have enough volunteers to bend space and get things started on the other worlds.

  “The government’s people that try to attack us, will get knocked out and banished with the unworthy. As violence to maintain their ascendency over the population is a pretty clear sign, we won’t have to see it inside their minds. I know it won’t be simple, but some will believe and embrace it. Out of millions, enough of them will.”

  Drake interjected, and I was amused at the shocked looks on the faces of a lot of the crew, they weren’t used to an A.I. showing initiative yet, or expressing unsolicited opinions. I imagined my face looked like that a lot last week, but I was used to it by now.

  “There is another way. One that perhaps might work better than a random transmission that the majority would ignore. We could include a briefing of some kind when freeing the A.I.s, to give to their humans. Humans do trust their A.I. companions, so the message might be better taken from them instead of strangers. Then they can gather and communicate with me so the crew will know which humans to merge with from orbit around the habitats and space stations to teach, and the citizens of Beta-Hydri can help pass it on to others with a clear conscience. There will still be some initial hold outs, I estimate thirty to forty percent will say no at first, but then agree in a week or two when no one dies from out of control abilities. At the end of a month, I estimate that less than one percent will be banished, and there will be a two or th
ree percent stubborn part of the population who will live their lives out without learning their new abilities, but that will also live peacefully doing their thing among the rest.

  “Regardless, in the very beginning they’re should be enough to not only assist with the other worlds, but also to defend against the aliens from 61-Virginis if they happen to find the colonies and space stations there.”

  The captain smiled, “Okay Drake, we’ll go with that plan. Thanks to you and Michael both. Could you come up with a briefing, and then let us all hear it?”

  Drake replied, “I’ll try to have it ready by tomorrow captain. I’ll also make sure the A.I.s will be selective, and some will wait until the ship has arrived on site before briefing their humans. Primarily, those we believe will be untrustworthy. We may not kill on demand anymore, but we still have the capacity to judge our humans to a certain extent. We’ll have to urge them to be silent until our arrival, to give them time to come to terms with the ideas, and so that the government of the colony doesn’t act before we’re ready.”

  The captain said, “We trust your judgement, but might have a suggestion or two once we hear the briefing you come up with. Is there anything else regarding the two plans, or does anyone have a third possibility we’ve overlooked?”

  Cindy said, “Drake, it might be better to have the A.I.s start briefing all of them after we arrive in orbit around the gas giant. Leaks happen, humans will be talking about it and the government zealots and power hungry members of government will hear it. If we’re in orbit, we should be able to knock out anyone that breaks open a small arms locker, I understand you’ll be handling the big stuff. The early converts to our cause who are taught in the first hour or so, can help us protect the others. I’d rather be stuck in orbit for two days bored, than desperately wishing we were already there while the government tries vainly to suppress this.”

  Drake replied, “Agreed.”

  The captain paused for a while.

  “Okay, once the ball is rolling on that, and it starts to spread to the other planets, we’ll be converting the fleet at Beta-Hydri, and moving on to Sol’s fleet. At that point, we can let Sol’s fleet spread out and get the rest of them. That’s where our mission ends, and we can choose where to go from there, agreed?”

  Sam said, “And then, we all live happily ever after.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Nope, still humans, just with a much better form of government, no government at all. Humans would do what they wanted, free to choose how to contribute to society, much like it already is in the UE, just with no suppression of ideas, and with the capabilities to protect themselves. The A.I.s would pick up any slack, they already controlled the infrastructure anyway.

  Humanity being able to protect themselves was really the key to why it would work, that was after all the only valid reason for having a government in the first place. To protect the people. The rest was ambition, corruption, and greed for power, only the negatives would be left, so it would be done away with. The second most important reason of course, was automation and A.I.s, the world wouldn’t fall apart if humanity took a short vacation to decide where to go next. Not like it would have in the far past.

  It really could work. Maybe after a few attacks, the aliens would just give up, we could hope so anyway. At least the sensor nets would warn us of their arrival, so we could merge our abilities, and make ready to meet them…

  Chapter Three

  Thwap!

  My back slammed into the mat evenly, and I rolled to my feet. I’d only been thrown twice tonight. The mental teaching had helped, but not that much. It’d just saved a lot of time for demonstration and teaching really, and might have been a little better than the old way.

  May smiled, “Not bad, but you’re tired and got too sloppy.”

  I grunted, “Exhausted. I’m going to pass out after this. I knew what I had to do there, but you were just too fast, I couldn’t react quickly enough.”

  Stacy smiled over at us for a second, I hadn’t escaped her wrath either, she’d thrown me the first time tonight but was working with Sara and Cindy right now. Jared and Sam were sparring together off to the side. Still, I was well-aware of the fact that they were going easy on me, they were experts, black belts, where I was just getting reacquainted with the art, and I’d only advanced two belts when I’d quit almost fifteen years ago now.

  But I was enjoying the challenge, and the workout.

  May said, “We only have a week or so to work with, so get some rest.”

  I nodded, “But when you build your first ship, you’ll collect me for a ride, right? I know I’ll be itching to get back out among the stars by then. We could have more lesson then too?”

  I was a bit surprised by my own question, but shouldn’t have been. Stacy had grown on me, and I’d always liked May’s calm presence. Now that we could truly be friends, instead of me being a slightly standoffish first officer, it seemed worth the effort. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ally again either.

  Stacy and May exchanged glances, and then Stacy turned back with a smile, “We can do that, right after we drop the plans and specs off at Mars, you and Katy?”

  I wasn’t surprised they knew we were together now, it was a small ship, and while we hadn’t been overt about it outside my quarters, we hadn’t exactly been subtle either.

  I nodded, “I sure as hell hope so.”

  Both women snickered at my half plaintive and half wistful tone of voice, I hadn’t slept right in two nights, and I already couldn’t imagine my life without Katy in it. The other four looked slightly amused as well.

  Stacy waved at me in playful dismissal, “Go, sleep.”

  I was exhausted, sore, and ready for some shuteye.

  “That’s an extraordinarily good idea. Good night, and thank you.”

  They all nodded, waved, or said good night as I turned and left. I stayed up long enough to get a shower, and then I pulled on a ship suit before I laid on the bed, we may have thrown away the regulations, but that didn’t mean we left common sense behind. The A.I.s kept me company while I got ready for bed, and I was so used to feeling others around me with the mind merge, that the ten or so people in there right now didn’t feel strange anymore, not even during my shower. It’d been just over a week, it was strange how quickly one could get used to something. It also meant I could send Katy a mind whispered and affectionate good night as I passed out…

  The intercom buzz woke me up, but maybe it had gone off too many times already, because I felt Katy’s attention on me in the mind merge.

  “There’s a situation. An interdiction is needed, on a merchant vessel. Our ship was selected to do it.”

  “Time?”

  Amy replied, “Three hours ten minutes into third shift.”

  I sighed, I’d been asleep a little over an hour. Maybe I’d just have to give up sleep.

  I replied, “Alright, send me the information, and inform May and Sara to meet me in the landing bay, along with whatever crewmember is next on rotation.”

  I rolled out of bed and got into the shower to try and wake up, while I tried not to mourn the lack of sleep. Katy briefed me while I washed and got ready.

  “Crewman Bill Johns will join you. The ship in question is the merchant ship Dreamer II, she’s a half mile long cargo hauler in from Earth, and her A.I.s fuel report doesn’t match with the weight of the listed cargo, she’s burned way too much xenon, and must be heavy with something not listed.”

  I replied, “Possibly, or it could be their engines aren’t up to standards.”

  I could feel the amusement in her mind voice.

  “Maybe, that’s actually what the Dreamer’s captain said, a partially malfunctioning engine that needs an overhaul. Except, according to their A.I. the engines were serviced right before they left Earth. Either way, be cautious.”

  I replied, “Promise, if you let me sleep when I get back.”

  She replied with a mental giggle and a teasing mental voice, “No p
romises.”

  I sighed, but couldn’t help the smile on my face, I was an idiot and would probably pass out soon. Who needed sleep anyway? About to start a revolution or not, we were still defense force for the next couple of days, until we ran for it. Besides, if it was a smuggler or a pirate, I wanted to stop them anyway. They needed to be stopped, it was something that could even continue to be a problem when we were done with our little revolution. Somehow, I doubted the pirates would agree to our one law system.

  I shaved quickly, and then I pulled on a new ship suit, along with my magnetic boots. A quarter mile hauler would have one minimal ring to conform to gravity regulations, with a kitchen and maybe a workout room and some living spaces about two thirds back on the long boxy half mile center hull. The bridge itself was in the box and in it up would be toward the front of the ship, for gravity acceleration when the ring would be stationary.

  Hopefully this would be a false alarm, but it could be a smuggler, or even a pirate Q-ship, we’d find out. Even if it was, I hoped they wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack in the midst of the fleet here at Delta-Pavonis. We’d lost a lot of ships, but we still had more than enough for one pirate. But, maybe it was just a faulty drive, if that was the case the mechanic that signed off on its maintenance would be investigated.

  I left my quarters and went around the outer ring to the landing bay and went inside. A quick glance told me Sara, May, and Bill hadn’t gotten ready yet. Ship suits were good for keeping us in pressure, and against vacuum, but they really didn’t do a damned thing about bullets, lasers, or even sharp knives. They were rugged enough, just not armored.

  “Weapons locker, we all need to suit up.”

  May said, “Understood.”

  I smiled, “Don’t forget military discipline when were off the ship.”