Terminal Peace by Jim C. Hines

Author:Jim C. Hines [Hines, Jim C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2022-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

14

Monroe studied a map of electrical currents in the planet’s rings, hoping if he stared at it long enough, the various lines and bubbles might start to make sense.

Grom claimed the patterns of activity might support Mops’ idea that the ring was a giant computer, but they couldn’t be certain. As for Monroe, he was a janitor, and before that, a soldier. Analyzing an artificial alien superintelligence was so far out of his expertise that it might as well be another galaxy.

They’d run through the standard greeting protocols and other attempts at communication, but so far, nothing had triggered a response.

“Commander Monroe! I may have a solution to our lack of weapons.” Johnny’s lower limbs rippled with excitement. “It’s highly nonstandard and untested, but I’ve reviewed the equations, and if everything is adjusted correctly and we don’t explode, it should be highly effective.”

Monroe rubbed his eyes. “Send it over.”

The specs and equations appeared on his console. Most of the math was beyond him, but the core concept . . . “Are you out of your mind?”

“I don’t understand the metaphor,” said Johnny. “Krakau brains are internal, not external.”

He squinted at the equations again. “Is the exponent on the energy expenditure correct? If this went wrong—”

“It would atomize the Pufferfish in the process, yes. Or perhaps subatomize it. Let me double-check.”

“Where did you even come up with this idea?”

“I was reviewing Captain Adamopoulos’ tactics in previous ship-to-ship confrontations.” Johnny flushed. “I thought . . . hoped . . . her unique approach to military conflict might help me find a way to redeem my mistake with the weapons pod.”

It did sound like the kind of thing Mops might suggest. “All right. Run some simulations and see what happens. Do not mess with the A-rings or anything else without my explicit permission. Understood?”

“Yes, Commander.” Johnny hurried back to her station, humming to herself.

Monroe pulled out his gum dispenser and clicked through the flavors. He hovered over the bourbon before reluctantly switching to espresso and popping two cubes into his mouth. “I don’t know why the Prodryans spend so much energy trying to kill us,” he muttered to nobody in particular. “Give us enough time, and we’ll blow ourselves all to hell for them.”

His console flashed a green priority message alert. He scrolled through the text and swore. “Forget the weapons, Johnny. I need you to scan the surface for Cate. Grom, it’s time to wake up.”

At the rear of the bridge, spines clicked as Grom stretched and opened their eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Cate stabbed Kumar and ran off.” He saw Rubin tense, and hurried to add, “He’s all right. But the captain says our top priority now is to find Cate.”

“How?” asked Grom. “Our scanners couldn’t pick out Starfallen, either.”

“I’ll take us into lower orbit,” said Rubin. “Send me Cate’s last known coordinates.”

“Done. I don’t care if we have to go optical and examine every square meter with a magnifying glass.” Monroe reread Mops’ message. “And Johnny, once we find Cate, you have my permission to test your weapons proposal on him.

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